Author: The Nation

THE seat of the Caliphate was in anticipation of the National Assembly and Presidential Election as the rest of the country when our reporter arrived at the Sokoto State capital on Friday, February 24, a day before the polls. Signs that there was going to be such a significant event as the election were apparent as the increased presence of security operatives was observed at various locations in Sokoto town.

On election day in Sokoto town, it was noticed that while election materials arrived some places early and accreditation and voting began promptly by 8.30 with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). In other places, it was not the same story as materials arrived late leading to the late commencement of the polls. There were also some issues that affected the smooth operation of the BVAS machine.

Well armed soldiers were visible in the entire city patrolling in their trucks to ensure there was no breakdown of law and order. Also, The Nation observed the presence of security agents including the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Immigration under the State Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security(ICCES) deployed to strategic points for the conventional duty to ensure security.

The Governor of the state, Aminu Tambuwal, had expressed concern over security lapses in some polling, saying there were inadequate arrangements. Tambuwal, who spoke after casting his vote at Government Girls Secondary School, Tambuwal, was also displeased over delay in arrival of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and materials at some polling units, which made him urge the electoral body to extend time and ensure eligible voters were not disenfranchised.

Tambuwal said security agents were overwhelmed in some areas not until reinforcement was made to control the situation. The Sokoto State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, echoed Tambuwal’s concern as according to him, over 70 percent of polling units were inadequately secured. He urged the electoral body to do more before the governorship election and state assembly elections. The governorship candidate also registered displeasure over late arrival of INEC officials and materials to some polling units.

“People are enthusiastic and in high spirits to vote but late arrival of officials and materials have affected their spirits. Although, the turnout is high, particularly women”, he had said. Aliyu Sokoto spoke to reporters shortly after casting his vote at the Tudun Wada “A” 019 polling unit. The former deputy governor also noted that most of the officials including adhoc staff were not adequately trained for the exercise with inadequate training. He commended INEC for introducing the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

Former governor, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, commended INEC for its resilience and organisation of the polls. Wamakko, who spoke to reporters at Gidan Kara where he voted, said he was impressed with the presence of security and voter turnout during the exercise. “I am particularly impressed by the peaceful and orderly manner of voters. INEC has done remarkably well for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the polls”, he said.

Also, after voting at Polling Unit 022, Sabon-titi opposite Borehole, in Kofar Atiku area, the Sokoto State PDP Governorship candidate, Malam Sa’idu Umar, said he was impressed with the massive turnout of voters. He described it as a good omen for Nigeria’s democracy. He commended INEC for deploying adequate ad-hoc staff and materials in time. He further enjoined voters to exercise their civic rights peacefully while also praying for a hitch-free exercise in the state and nation at large. The Nation observed that there was no exchange of cash or other items for votes.

Even pregnant women were sighted in queues struggling to cast their votes despite the scorching sun. Hajiya Hafsatu Abdullahi, a mother of four, told our correspondent that she had been on the queue since 7:30 am and could not vote until 11am. Hafsatu, who shared her experience on BVAS, said the machine had no problem. “I was surprised that I smoothly voted. BVAS is effective and I am sure that my vote will count. Unlike previous elections, we encountered problems,” she said.The electorate in the 244 wards filed out across 3, 383 out of 3,991 originally designated polling units in Sokoto state for the polls.

The Nation observed that a majority of voters at polling units visited were women. Our correspondent also observed that voters were infuriated at the Polling Unit 002 at Yaya Gusau Primary School, Sokoto as an INEC Adhoc staff said everybody must not vote in the election. The Assistant Presiding Officer 2, who refused to give her name, said this as their BVAS machine used at the PU lost network. “Must everybody vote?” she queried. Many voters who had been standing under the scorching sun were infuriated as the 2.30pm deadline for the closing of voting passed.

The situation got rowdy as they complained bitterly. They insisted they must vote. It took the intervention of police officers who pleaded with the voters to be calm as the problem would be addressed to quell the angry voters. The Presiding Officer of the PU, Mubarak Umar, said efforts to reach the Supervisory Presiding Officer to address the situation were futile as he could not be reached on the phone.The matter was eventually sorted out and voting resumed, though quite late. This was as some voters were upset that they could not find their names at the polling units they were designated to vote.

The voters lamented they were at a loss as to the location they were to vote. One of them Juliet Nwaize said, “This venue (Yaya Gusau Primary School) was to be my polling unit. I received a message from INEC that this is where I should vote. But I am here now and they are telling me my location is not here. I received a message telling me to check the website www.voters.inecnigeria.org. I have been trying to open it but to no avail as the site is not opening. Right now I don’t know what to do.”

However, it was observed that there was a massive turnout of voters in Sokoto town for the Presidential and National Assembly elections. Several polling units witnessed large crowds of citizens out to perform their civic responsibility.

 It was also observed that the polls were largely peaceful so far. Voting commenced between 8:30am and 9:30am in the PUs visited in Sokoto town. It was observed that the only PU that had a hitch was polling unit 023, Offa Road, due to a faulty Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine.

The Presiding Officer, Grace Francis, said efforts were on to address the situation. The BVAS machine for polling unit 023, Offa Road in Sokoto broke down as the people lined up to vote. Presiding Officer Grace Francis, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, said she had called a superior officer to fix the problem. After a tense election, the collation of the results of the Presidential election in the state began around 10pm the following day February 26. The results of the National Assembly elections for the state were however declared inconclusive eventually.

The Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, emerged winner of the election with 288,679 votes in Sokoto State. He was closely followed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who polled 285,444 votes. The results were announced by the State Collation Officer, Prof Kabiru Bala, at about 2.40am on Tuesday February 28 at the state collation centre located at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters, Tangaza Road, Sokoto.

The candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, came third with 6,568 votes. Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), came fourth with 1, 300 votes. The results came from the entire 23 Local Government Areas of the state. Bala said elections were cancelled in 471 polling units due to insecurity. Meanwhile, a former Minister of Transport and Director General of the Sokoto State PDP governorship campaign council, Yusuf Suleiman, complained about the outcome of the polls.

According to him, the results did not reflect the wishes of the Sokoto people. He also frowned at INEC’s cancellation of 471 polling units. The PDP chieftain recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari said he was passionate about bequeathing a legacy of free, fair, credible and acceptable elections. He said some people around the president were working against this. Suleiman accused INEC for not doing enough to deal with perpetrators of violence during the elections. He said the perpetrators of the violence that led to the massive cancellation of PUs must not go scot free. He urged INEC to ensure they were apprehended and brought to book no matter how highly placed they are.

He said by cancelling these PUs, thousands of eligible voters were already disenfranchised. He also urged INEC to hasten the process of conducting fresh elections in the affected polling units and ensure adequate security arrangements. “When tempers are down, INEC should conduct elections across the affected PUs. The DSS and other security organs must brace up to the challenge of ensuring no voter is threatened by thugs. We will no longer tolerate this avoidable occurrence.” He further appealed to people of the state to continue to be law abiding citizens and eschew all forms of violence capable of retarding the progress and development of the state.

Prince Akintade Olayisade is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ekiti State coordinator of Grassroots Independent Campaign Organisation for Tinubu/Shetima. In this interview with RASAQ IBRAHIM, he speaks on the just concluded presidential polls and factors that aided APC’s victory.

INEC has declared Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 general election. What will be your immediate reaction to his emergence?

Yes, we thank God for mercy and grace because it could only be God. You see, APC going to election, the party was intact, no hanky-panky, no acrimony, no crisis, no division but the government policy was against the candidature of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I’m talking about the issue of fuel scarcity and naira swap. Some people may say it is a good idea and welcoming development for us to change our currency at interval but it came at a wrong time and this seriously worked against our party. So, it will not be out of way to say that it was Tinubu’s personality that won the election for him and not the party. So, the election is a sweet victory for Nigerians because their people’s vote counted for the first time.

Some people have raised issues about this election including the ex- President Obasanjo writing letter that there are flaws in the election and should be cancelled. Do you see any meaning to their agitations?

Obasanjo, like others have said, does not have any moral justification to talk about rigging of election in Nigeria because he midwifed the worst election in Nigeria’s political history. He came out openly to say it is do or die. I would win the election no how anyhow. And the man, may God be with him in heaven, Musa Yar’adua, the former president of blessed memory came out and confessed openly that the election that produced him was marred with excessive frauds and irregularities.

As we all know, he is a stormy petrel. He thrives in crisis. He is not really a leader that you could dissipate your energy in listening to. He knows deep down in him that the election was quite okay but he cannot but talk for obvious reason. Number one, Obasanjo doesn’t want any Yoruba man to be at the helms of affairs of this country. If you’re playing a game with him and you beat him to his game, you will become his enemy. There are only two people in this country as far as Obasanjo is concerned; himself and others. So, he could hardly see anything good in other people. When he was President, he tried everything possible in making sure that he derailed the government of Asiwaju Tinubu in lagos state. But heaven did not permit him. So, the complaint of Obasanjo is not legitimate.

Now the election has been won and lost. What is your message to the winner and the losers?

As far as this election is concerned, there is no winner and no loser. Nigerians and our democracy are the winners. It’s not a particular party because Asiwaju Tinubu will govern all over Nigeria irrespective of party, religion, ethnic leanings. Even if we are being joyful, we must moderate it. It’s not about people one people joyful and other not joyful. Nigerians have won for one reason for the very first time. Since 1960, this is first time that we would be having a business oriented minded man at the helms of affairs in Nigeria.

Looking at this general election, there is one aspect that people have been talking about was Peter Obi’s excellent outing. Were you surprised that he got over six millions votes?

To be sincere, I was really surprised even before the conclusion of the election. I started ruminating over what must have happened and I came out with these factors. One, ethnic sentiment, if you see the voting pattern, that’s not the Nigeria that our founding father prayed and we are praying for, it’s quite unfortunate but it happens that way. I believe it has to be corrected. We must learn how to see good in other people not that somebody comes from your tribe and he have to have your votes no. Number two is religious sentiments. It’s quite disheartening that Obi tra versed this country, going from one church to another.

Preachers all over churches were telling their congregations not to vote a Muslim/Muslim ticket. But the end will justify the means and now we will see that one of the things that we will achieve in this poll is that religion is not going to be a major issue in our body politics anymore. It doesn’t have to be because he is not going to be the head of a church or a mosque. All we are yearning for is a good governance. Whosever that can give it, so be it. Religion in politics was quite pronounced to the extent that the diehard Christians did not want to vote for Muslim and that is one of the major issues. Another issue is the case of EndSARS in Lagos state and all the internet youths that does not know the geography of Nigeria’s co-existence.

There was also the tribal face off between Igbos and Yorubas in Lagos and some other places. This is not good because Igbos should be our friends more than any other tribes because after the war it was the Yorubas that salvaged them. Everything they left in Yorubaland, we gave it back to them. We are supposed to be friends. Tinubu even cuddled them. I will say maybe liberalism taken too far to the point that they are claiming that Lagos is no man’s land. Who can do that in the Igbo land? So, all those things contributed to the scores of Obi.

Many second term governors lost their bid to retire to the senate. How do you see this?

It is a great lesson. I think the National Assembly should legislate that whoever has been in the executive should not dream of going into the legislative arm. But today, it’s a constitutional right that nobody can take that away from them. And now that they have seen it, tested themselves and people have voted against them, then it’s a referendum. They should know that if they do it right they will get it back. Look at Ortom, he governed a whole state and now you are seeking election in one-third of the state and you could not win. That means you are a failure. History has judged you. In Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade too was rejected, and others like that.

You know history has judged them if they do it right, people will vote for them. So, a lesson that we must learn from this election is that it’s no more business as usual. The hero of this election is INEC. The electoral body under Prof. Mahmud Yakubu has given us to a larger extent, a very transparent and fair election. In the history of electioneering in Nigeria this is the best one. So, I give kudos to INEC and that’s number one. Two, I give kudos to the northerners.

They think of Nigeria’s unity and they allowed it to overwhelm their personal aggrandizement. Because if they have to think along ethnic line, the tribal sentiments and whip it like the way it is whipped in southeast and southsouth that they only voted for their son. If they do the same for Atiku in the north I’m afraid Nigeria may not get it right. But now, I believe God be with Asiwaju and Shettima and give them the knowledge and understanding to paddle the canoe of this country, Nigeria will move forward.

Your GICC campaigned here in Ekiti. What should Ekiti people be expecting from Tinubu?

Oh yes, you know even without GICC, Tinubu is deeply rooted in Ekiti. Number one, without sentiment, his first daughter married to an Ekiti man. His lieutenants that are very close to him all came from Ekiti. So, he knows Ekiti like the back of his palm. We should be expecting great things. We have people who can talk to him and he will listen and I pray God give those people the courage to talk to him and may God give them courage not to be selfish because some people when they get their own, they don’t care about other people. May God raise leaders that will be able to take care of the downtrodden in the society.

The just concluded election sprang up so many surprises. What do you think future elections will be like?

Yes, it is the masses that also won in this election because our leaders will no longer take us for granted. I must say, I believe the cashless electoral process. So, if you want to contest for second term, you will work and people will see what you have done. And you campaign vigorously. It will not be like those days when politicians will be working towards storing money for vote buying. But now, they will work maximally to save their names and win elections if they want to re-contest.

Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports that rebellions by some political party officials against the governorship candidates of their party, are threatening to end the gubernatorial dreams of some of the contestants ahead of the March 18 governorship election in Oyo State.

AHEAD of next Saturday’s governorship election in Oyo State, more and more politicians are engaging in open rebellion against their political parties by dumping opting to support the gubernatorial flag-bearer of other parties. Analysts say these actions are part of the gale of rebellions and re-alignments that are characterizing the frenzied moves by gladiators in the fierce struggle for the coveted governorship seat of the state.

Oftentimes, in buildups to elections in Nigeria, defections are a common phenomenon as politicians move around seeking greener political pastures. But it is not an everyday occurrence to see the leadership of a political party announcing that it will no longer be working for the victory of the candidate of its own party at the polls, but will rather be supporting the aspiration of the candidate of another party. More queer it is when this happens a week to the election.

Checks by The Nation revealed that the leading beneficiaries of these unusual political horse-trading are incumbent governor, Seyi Makinde, who is the candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator Teslim Folarin, the flag-bearer of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Both candidates, considered as the front runner in the three horses’ race to the Government House, have been reaping supports from dishevel in some other parties.

On the other hand, candidate of the Accord Party, Adebayo Adelabu, and gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Michael Folorunsho Lana, as well as Mrs. Aduragbemi, Animashaun-Euba of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), have been victims of the rebellions and re-alignments being witnessed as gladiators continue their push towards the gubernatorial position in Oyo state. The three governorship hopefuls are currently battling internal crisis within their parties as some officials declare support for either Makinde or Folarin.

Accord Party for Makinde?

During the week, Accord party leadership in Oyo State announced to the public that it has dumped its candidate, Adebayo Adelabu, and opted to throw its weight and structures behind the re-election bid of Governor Makinde of the PDP. Kolade Ojo, the State Chairman of the party, made this known at a news conference on Wednesday in Ibadan. He said that the entire executive members of Accord in the state have agreed to form a working alliance with the incumbent governor.

The party chairman accused Adelabu of not recognizing or respecting the party leadership in the state. “The state working committee, local and ward executives have lost confidence in Chief Adebayo Adelabu as a worthy candidate to be supported for the exalted position of state governor. Going forward, the entire ACCORD Oyo State executives have agreed to form a working alliance with the incumbent Gov. Seyi Makinde,” he said.

The party chairman said that entire party structure expressed displeasure, disappointment and disenchantment for not being carried along as partners in progress and pillars of electoral victory for his candidature. Ojo said that the coalition was born out of passion for uninterrupted good governance and their conviction that Makinde had performed creditably in delivering dividends of democracy to the people.

He said that the coalition would bolster accelerated growth and all round development. Ojo accused Adelabu of deliberate sidelining the wards and local government party executives in the scheme of things. He said that Adelabu preferred to work with his few supporters from a former party. He alleged that there is no harmonious working relationship with the Accord Party candidate sicne he joined the party. Ojo said that they were satisfied with Makinde’s achievements in different sectors such as Education, Health, Civil Service reform and prompt payment of entitlements to retirees.

Secretary of the party in the state, Olayinka Dairo, while explaining that the 32 Accord candidates for the State House of Assembly are still contesting, said the decision to back Makinde was not borne out of pecuniary considerations. “The 32 Accord candidates for the House of Assembly are still in the race to win. We call on supporters and party faithful to give them the necessary support for their resounding victory at the coming polls. Our party structure is not collapsed. It will be used to support the PDP government led by Gov. Seyi Makinde” Dairo said.

Discordant tunes

But the position of Ojo and Dairo may not be the opinion of the entire Accord Party going by certain developments. Few hours before the announcement of their support for Governor Mankinde, three House of Representatives candidates of the party had joined the camp of Senator Folarin, the governorship candidate of the APC. The defectors from Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa and Oyo zones, along with their supporters, had earlier on Wednesday in Ibadan, announced that they were returning to their former party, the APC.

The Reps candidates, Wakeel Oyedemi of Afijio/Atiba/Oyo East/Oyo West constotuency; Bashiru Lawal of Atisbo, Saki East and Saki West constituency and David Okanlawon of Ibarapa Central/Ibarapa North constituency, said they have realized the need to support the APC to unseat the ruling PDP during the next governorship election. According to the defectors, they will not be working for the victory of Adelabu at the poll on Saturday as they will be supporting the election efforts of the APC and Senator Folarin henceforth.

Few hours after the two ‘rebellions’ against his aspiration, gubernatorial candidate of the Accord Party Chief Bayo Adelabu, urged members of the party and the good people of Oyo state to ignore what he called the antics of some people to mislead the voters. He assured members of the party and residents of the state that he is still in the race. “I have heard what some people from Accord Party have said earlier that they are following PDP, don’t mind them, they are only scared. There is no iota of truth in everything they said.

“I’m still in the race, we will contest and we will win, don’t mind the people that announced alliance with PDP. I can never form coalition with Makinde, I’m still active in this race, don’t be scared.” He assured party faithfuls that he remains calm as he will ensure that everything is prepared towards his victory. According to him, his opponents are scared of the rising popularity and for this reason, they are doing everything they can to undermine the chances of Accord Party at the poll and confuse the voters. “I am in the race to win,” he assured his supporters.

And to support Adelabu, the national leadership of Accord, same day, dissolved its executive committee in the state and appointed a five-member Caretaker Committee headed by Alhaji Isiaka Salami to take charge of the party. National Chairman, Muhammad Nalado, said the state executive in Oyo state was dissolved for anti-party activities. Other members of the caretaker committee are Bashiru Ayobami. Secretary; Fatai Salawu, Bimpe Martins and Ayodele Oyajide.

Folarin’s haul

The APC candidate has also been reaping from some realignment ahead of the governorship election. Recently, members of Ladoja political dynasty otherwise known as Idera De, made up of loyalists of former governor Rasheed Ladoja, endorsed the candidature of Senator Teslim Folarin. In a statement signed by Hon Biodun Latiwo, and Hon Tolani Adigun, chairman and secretary respectively, the group said it took the decision having considered Senator Folarin’s track record as an astute politician and experienced public servant.

According to leaders of the group, Folarin has shown over time that he does not have a vaulting ambition, as he had made sacrifices for the political stability of the state. “In our analysis before arriving at a choice of candidate to support outside the PDP candidate, we looked at critical variables, comparing the present and future of our dear State. He is the most qualified of all the candidates based on cognate experience as the Governor of Oyo. Senator Teslim Folarin has built and maintained social bridges and networks of lasting friendships across every constituency in Oyo.

“He has eternal relationships with all regions of Oyo. We willingly endorse, adopt Senator Teslim Folarin,” the group vowed. Analysts say the decision of Ladoja’s loyalists to back the APC candidate is a big boost for his chances at the poll on Saturday.

In a related development, members of the Social Democratic Party, SDP in Oyo State on Thursday, said they have adopted Folarin as their preferred choice in the governorship contest in the state. The party made the announcement after an emergency state congress which held in Ibadan. According to sources, the meeting was called to review the performances of the party in the last presidential and National Assembly elections. Party leaders said the decision to support Folarin was taken in the interest of the state.

“Governor Seyi Makinde has been a woe for the entire state. It had been our long standing mission to oust the Makinde led government as a result of the level of betrayal to the coalition parties that saw him won the 2019 election as well as to the people of the state. In the last 46 months, governance has become something else in the state. This is why we are entering into this alliance,” Micheal Okunlade, chairman of the party, said.

Speaking further, he said “If he is not using consultants and contractors to fritter our state’s resources, he is doing half-baked projects, at exorbitant costs. His association with an ex-convict, and executive cover for his lawlessness has brought our state’s security to ground zero. Indeed, Governor Makinde’s infractions are endless. We believe that to right these wrongs, there is need for us to form a virile coalition with a party that can dislodge this administration that has shown itself to be lacking in development. That is why, after many meetings with major stakeholders even outside of our party, we arrived at Sen. Teslim Folarin of the All Progressives Congress, APC.”

Rumpus in YPP

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Oyo State, has summoned the party’s governorship candidate, Mrs Aduragbemi Animasawun-Euba and her running mate, Ojewole Adekola, to appear before the state executives of the party and defend allegations of anti-party activities. State chairman of YPP, Adedeji Adeyemi, while speaking on the matter during the week, said the two candidates have been alleged to be less committed to the gubernatorial election and the future of the party.

The party leaders said they will not allow anybody to dishonor the legacies of its founding fathers. But sources within the party told The Nation that the crisis rocking the party may not be unconnected with plans by some leaders of the party to force YPP to endorse one of the two leading gubernatorial candidates in the state ahead of Saturday’s election. “They want the candidates to agree to step down for another candidate and the two are refusing. That is the truth behind the summons and queries you are hearing about,” a source said.

Speaking recently, Animasawun-Euba has said she has no plans to go into a coalition ahead of Saturday’s elections. She foreclosed going into a coalition saying she is banking on the huge number of youths and women to win the governorship election in the state. “Election is just days away. If a coalition was going to happen, it would have happened. I do not plan to go into a coalition, but I must say that in Saturday’s election, Oyo State needs change not continuity.”