The Nation Newspaper

Category: Election 2019

  • Police deploy 3,066 personnel for Rivers’ supplementary election

    Rivers Police Command has deployed over 3,066 personnel to strategic areas for supplementary election in some parts of the state on Saturday.

    The Command’s Spokesman, DSP Nmandi Omoni, made this known in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on March 21, announced plans to conduct supplementary elections in Abua/Odua, Ahoada West, Gokana and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas of the state.

    According to Omoni, the police and sister security agencies are ready to provide adequate security to ensure hitch-free polls.

    “The Command has deployed a total of 3,066 personnel to be complemented by other sister security agencies to provide security and maintenance of law and order in the affected LGAs.

    “This was done to realise the full objectives of the supplementary election as well as engender a seamless exercise,” he said.

    Omoni said that restriction of movement in the affected local government areas would begin 11:59 a.m. on Friday and end 2 p.m. on Saturday.

    “Politicians are barred from going to the polling units with security details. This will not be tolerated.

    “The police and other security agencies will be on patrol to ensure strict compliance to this order and possibly make arrest of election violators,” he warned.

    The police spokesperson warned that any individual or group seen undermining the electoral process would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the Electoral Act. (NAN)

  • Rivers: Wike close to victory as collation continues

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike is close to be re-elected going by ongoing collation of the March 9 governorship election.

    The governor, who is of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has polled 763, 603 so far leaving his African Action Congress(AAC) main challenger,  Awara Biokpomabo, with just 162, 180 votes.

    A total of 19 LGAs have so far been collated as at Wednesday morning.

    Two more results from Ahoada West and Gokana LGAs are being expected.

    However, two LGAs, Khana and Abual/Odual will be outstanding to complete the 23 LGAs in the state.

    As it stands, there is possibility that the Governorship result collation committee will declare the final results today.

    If that happens, then the expected re-run elections in the two LGAs, (Khana and Abua/Odual), may no longer hold.

    Read Also: Court dismisses AAC’s suit against Rivers election

    Meanwhile the two main contenders have polled:

    PDP-763,603

    AAC -162, 180

    The committee is to reconvene by 3:00pm for collation of Ahoada West and Gokana LGAs results.

    The results of LGAs collated Wednesday morning is as follows:

    Ogu/Bolo LGA

    PDP-11, 855

    AAC-814

    Obio/Akpor LGA

    PDP-281, 164

    AAC- 7, 495

    Asari-Toru LGA

    PDP- 32, 172

    AAC- 18, 945

    Degema LGA

    PDP- 12,133

    AAC-5, 071

  • INEC issues certificates of return to Bauchi gov elect, 31 Lawmakers

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday issued certificates of return to governor-elect of Bauchi State, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, his deputy,  Alhaji Baba Tela, and 31 members-elect of the state House of Assembly in Bauchi.

    Presenting the certificates, the National Electoral Commissioner in charge of Bauchi, Gombe and Yobe States, Alhaji Baba Shettima-Arfo, said the event was historic in the democratic transition of the state.

    Shettima-Arfo noted that the process used to be peaceful in Bauchi, but lamented that this time around, there were pockets of violence in few places in the state, which resulted in inconclusive elections in some parts of the state.

    He assured that the commission would investigate the circumstances to enable it tackle same during future elections.

    The national commissioner called on stakeholders in the state to work closely with INEC to enable the commission excel during future elections.

    He commended organizations in the state that contributed towards the success of the last election.

    On his part, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in charge of Bauchi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, observed that elective positions in the state were keenly contested, describing the situation as a positive development.

    Ibrahim assured political actors  that the commission would remain an impartial umpire in the discharge of its responsibilities.

    In his remarks, the  governor-elect, Mohammed, commended INEC for conducting free and fair election in the state in spite of intense pressure from certain quarters.
    He also commended the Bauchi electorate for exhibiting maturity during the polls and the confidence reposed in him by giving him their mandate.

    The governor-elect pledged not to betray the confidence reposed in him by the people and called on all and sundry to join him in developing the state.

    Out of 31 House of Assembly members-elect, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has 22, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got eight while ANPP had one.

  • INEC presents Certificates of Return to governor-elect, 25 others in Gombe

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) on Friday presented Certificates of Return to Gombe State Governor-elect, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya, his deputy, Mr Manassah Jatau and the 24 elected members of the State House of Assembly.

    Alhaji Baba Arfo, the INEC National Commissioner Supervising Bauchi, Gombe and Yobe States who presented the certificates to the elected officials in Gombe, congratulated them.

    Arfo said the outcome of the elections in the states under his supervision had shown that democracy had developed, adding that every vote counted during the elections.

    He commended the security personnel, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for partnering with INEC for the success of the elections and all the international partners and observers for their technical supports.

    “I congratulate the elected officials. The presentation today is a constitutional requirement.

    “ The outcome of the elections has shown that democracy is developing and every vote now count. This is due to the high level of awareness by all stakeholders and we appreciate that,” he said.

    Arfo, while reassuring the commitment of the commission to free and fair elections in the future, requested the elected officials to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people by developing the state.

    Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Alh. Umar Ibrahim, thanked all the stakeholders for the success of the elections and the people for conducting themselves peacefully during the elections.

    Ibrahim thanked the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu-Abubakar III, who he said, personally “recorded sound bites to encourage electorate to come out to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs)”.

    The governor-elect thanked the people of the state for conducting themselves peacefully throughout the elections, adding that his election was a product of true democracy.

    Yahaya extended his hands of fellowship to all who contested and conceded defeat, adding that: “We have no other place, but Gombe and the aim of contesting is to take Gombe to the next level.”

    He sought the understanding of all citizens of the state to develop and make it a shining example in the North-east sub-region.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that certificates of return were given to 22 elected members who were present at the venue out of the 24 elected members scheduled for the presentation.

  • Court dismisses suit challenging Adamawa gov’ship election

    The Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola has dismissed a suit asking it to nullify the governorship election in the state.

    The case failed because the plaintiff tendered documents not properly certified and because he failed to prove his case by not tendering a document that was vital for the determination of the case, the trial judge, Justice Abdulaziz Waziri, ruled Friday morning.

    The candidate of the Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), Rev Eric Theman, represented by his counsel, Bar Mustapha Ibrahim, had gone before the court to allege that he was deprived the right to be voted for in the March 9 election because the logo of his party was not on the ballot paper even after he had been recognised as a gubernatorial candidate.

    But the judge said the plaintiff failed to tender the ballot paper indicating that the logo of his party was omitted from it.

    “The fundamental document that would have proved the point was never brought before this court. The burden of proof lies on the plaintiff. This burden was not properly discharged,” he said, stressing that the reliefs sought by the plaintiff had therefore failed.

    Justice Waziri advised him or any other party wishing to appeal the judgement to do so within 90 days at the Yola Division of the Court of Appeal.

    The judgment of the court came Friday morning, hours after the state supplementary gubernatorial election was concluded and Rt Hon Umaru Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declared winner, having scored the highest votes in both the March 9 main election and the Thursday return

  • Adamawa supplementary election result collation shifts to 8pm — REC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the collation of result of the Adamawa governorship supplementary election will begin by 8 pm on Thursday.

    Mr. Kasim Gaidam, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), confirmed the development to NAN in Yola.

    Gaidam explained that the exercise would begin at the Adamawa Governorship Election collation centre at INEC state headquarters in Yola.

    Gaidam said that reports reaching him showed the election was concluded peacefully and successfully in the 44 polling units in 14 local government areas of the state.

    ” We thank Almighty God that the supplementary election was conducted successfully and the collation of the result will commenced by 8 pm today.

    ” The election results from the affected 14 LGAs and 44 polling units are on the way to the collation centre,” Gaidam said.

    The Commissioner thanked the relevant stakeholders for making the election successful and peaceful.

  • Bayelsa election tribunal begins sitting in Yenagoa

    The 2019 election petition tribunal began sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, to begin considerations of various petitions arising from the conduct of the 2019 national and state legislative elections.

    Already, the candidates of the Advanced People’s Democratic Alliance (APDA), Azibataman Johnbull, filed a petition challenging the declaration of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mieteme Obodor, as the winner of the House of Assembly election in Ogbia Constituency 1.

    Johnbull earlier applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the certified true copies of results from the entire Ward 13, where he alleged that irregularities took place during the election.

    He alleged that army personnel attached to former President Goodluck Jonathan were involved in the malpractices.

    The tribunal also received from the APC candidate for Bayelsa Central senatorial district, Mr. Festus Dumeibi, against the PDP candidate, Douye Diri.

    Petitions were further received from the APC candidate for state House of Assembly candidates, Dr. Selekaye Victor-Ben (Constituency 4, Southern Ijaw), Leskey Ikengs (Southern Ijaw Constituency 4), Nathan Aggro (Yenagoa constituency 1) and Mrs. Caroline Jack (Yenagoa 3).

    The Speaker of the State House of Assembly and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency also filed a petition against the electoral victory of Preye Oseke of the APC.

    Petition came from Mrs. Marie Ebikake of the PDP against the victory of Israel Sunny-Goli of the APC who was declared winner of the Nembe/Brass federal constituency.

    In a related development, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has issued certificates of return to 23 members-elect of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

    The State Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Pastor Monday Udoh-Tom, while presenting the certificates return urged them to be better representatives to their constituency.

  • INEC presents certificates of return to El-Rufai, 34 lawmakers

    As it presented certificates of return to Kaduna state Governor Nasir El-Rufai and 34 elected house of assembly members in Kaduna on Thursday, The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why inconclusive elections has become the order of the day in Nigeria.

    The election management body, noted that though, inconclusive elections did not start with the present commission, it became rampant because elections have become highly competitive.

    National Commissioner supervising Plateau, Niger, Kaduna States and FCT, Professor Antonia Okoosi-Simbine stated while presenting certificate of return to the Governor and the lawmakers.

    According to Professor Okoosi-Simbine, “Our democracy is deepening incrementally having conducted the sixth successive election without an interregnum; there is improved integrity in the electoral system; the elections are becoming more and more competitive and the margin between winners and runners-up are decreasing to the extent that in many instances elections into the Executive and Legislatures are increasingly becoming inconclusive.

    “This explains why the phenomenon of inconclusive elections appears to have Increased. To be sure, it existed prior to the existence of the present commission. We cannot expect less when a few big parties are contesting for power at every level.” He said.

    She also noted that the election was marred by violence through, “a new trend, in which some parties and candidates engaged in violent behavior, including manhandling election duty officials and intimidation of voters, collation and Returning Officers.

    “The Commission views this trend with grave concerns and will continue to work on greater voter enlightenment for mandate protection as well as with the security agencies to curtail this ugly trend.”

    She however advised politicians who felt aggrieved in the just concluded general elections to seek judicial remedy in law court.

    “The commission advises disgruntled persons and parties to feel free to seek judicial remedy where they believe they have genuine case(s) to pursue.

    “Indeed, seeking judicial remedy is not only a part and parcel of the electoral process in Nigeria; it is consistent with the culture of democracy as opposed to resorting to self-help.

    However, the INEC boss called on governor El-Rufai to ensure the people of the state enjoy dividends of democracy.

    “I encourage you to deliver more materials benefits to the diversity of people in Kaduna in order to meet their governance expectations,” she told El-Rufai.

    Shortly after receiving the certificate, El-rufai said in a remark that he would carry everybody along in governance irrespective of political differences.

    He assured of security of lives and property, just as he expressed gratitude to the people for re-electing him to serve them for the second term.

  • Why inconclusive elections are rampant, by INEC

    As it presented certificates of return to Kaduna state Governor Nasir El-Rufai and 34 elected house of assembly members in Kaduna on Thursday, The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why inconclusive elections have become the order of the day in Nigeria.

    The election management body noted that though, inconclusive elections did not start with the present commission, it became rampant because elections have become highly competitive.

    National Commissioner supervising Plateau, Niger, Kaduna States and FCT, Professor Antonia Okoosi-Simbine stated while presenting certificate of return to the Governor and the lawmakers.

    According to Professor Okoosi-Simbine, “Our democracy is deepening incrementally having conducted the sixth successive election without an interregnum; there is improved integrity in the electoral system; the elections are becoming more and more competitive and the margin between winners and runners-up are decreasing to the extent that in many instances elections into the Executive and Legislatures are increasingly becoming inconclusive.

    “This explains why the phenomenon of inconclusive elections appears to have
    increased. To be sure, it existed prior to the existence of the present commission. We cannot expect less when a few big parties are contesting for power at every level.” He said.

    She also noted that the election was marred by violence through, “a new trend in which some parties and candidates engaged in violent behaviour, including manhandling election duty officials and intimidation of voters, collation and Returning Officers.

    “The Commission views this trend with grave concerns and will continue to work on greater voter enlightenment for mandate protection as well as with the security agencies to curtail this ugly trend.”

    She, however, advised politicians who felt aggrieved in the just concluded general elections to seek judicial remedy in law court.

    “The commission advises disgruntled persons and parties to feel free to seek judicial remedy where they believe they have genuine case(s) to pursue.

    “Indeed, seeking judicial remedy is not only a part and parcel of the electoral process in Nigeria, it is consistent with the culture of democracy as opposed to resorting to self-help.

    However, the INEC boss called on governor El-Rufai to ensure the people of the state enjoy dividends of democracy.

    “I encourage you to deliver more materials benefits to the diversity of people in Kaduna in order to meet their governance expectations”. She told El-Rufai.

    Shortly after receiving the certificate, El-rufai said in a remark that he would carry everybody along in governance irrespective of political differences.

    He assured of security of lives and property, just as he expressed gratitude to the people for re-electing him to serve them for the second term.

  • Adamawa Election: Security beefed up at polling units

    Security has been beefed up at polling units as people in Adamawa trickle out to vote in Thursday’s supplementary governorship election.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the election is going on in 44 units across 29 wards of 14 local government areas of the state.

    Vehicular movement has, however, not been restricted, but armed policemen were seen on roads leading to polling units conducting stop and search on motorists.

    Plain clothes security and unarmed policemen are seen around the polling units observing the exercise.

    Speaking on the security situation, the Adamawa Resident Electoral commissioner, Mr Kassim Gaidam, said that only those with Permanent Voter Cards in the affected units would be allowed access to the polling units.

    Gaidam added that only one agent from each of the political parties was allowed at polling units; but political parties’ monitoring teams would not allowed access to the election venue.

    According to him, the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Zone 3 and the Commissioner of Police in the state are leading other security agencies in monitoring the exercise.

    He said that the National Commissioner in charge of Adamawa, Taraba and Gombe states would be joined by some neigbouring states electoral commissioners to monitor the election.