The Nation Newspaper

Category: Election 2019

  • Wike votes at Unit 7, Ward 9, Obio/Akpor LGA

    Rivers State Governor,  Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Saturday voted during the Governorship and State Assembly elections,  declaring that he is confident of victory .

    The Governor who was accompanied  by his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike  voted at about 10.47am after he was duly accredited.

    The Governor voted at Unit 7, Ward 9 of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State.

    Addressing  journalists after voting,  Governor Wike said despite  the attempts to manipulate the election in some Local Government Areas,  he is sure of victory.

    “We are hoping that it will Continue  to be like this. Sometimes,  the voting goes on smoothly,  but the main thing is at the Collation Centres.”

  • Eight injured as APC/ PDP clash in A/Ibom

    Eight persons have been reportedly injured in a clash between supporters of the APC and PDP in Nsit Atail local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

    The incident occurred at the Ward 9 unit 007.

    It was gathered that the injured persons who were  of the APC camp, were macheted  during a battle with the PDP supporters and have been taken to the Itu Mbang General Hospital.

    A chieftain of APC  from the area, Dr. Edem who spoke with some journalists at his residence claimed that PDP armed thugs in connivance with security personnel barred APC supporters from coming around the polling units to cast their votes.

    He fingered the house member of Nsit Atai, Hon.Mark Essiet of instigating  violence in the area and expressed pessimism that one of the injured persons hospitalised at the Itu Mbang Hospital may never survive the attack.

    His words,  “The PDP thugs did not allow my people to vote. The PDP House member Mark Essiet organised thugs to matchete and intimidate APC supporters.”

  • Udom’s campaign coordinator hails exercise

    The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Works and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) campaign coordinator in Onna Local Government, Mr. Ephraim Inyang, said the tension that enveloped the state on the eve of the governorship and House of Assembly elections and the threat of military intimidation is restricted to the social media, as the exercise has been cordial and peaceful so far.
    Inyang who spoke to reporters at his polling unit in Ikot Ebere, Oniong West, commended security agencies, electoral officials and the people for the manner they have acquitted themselves so far.
    He said the military has been patrolling and not getting close to the polling units, just as the police are not interfering with the exercise.
    He said: “The tension that enveloped the state on the eve of this election is restricted to the social media.
    “People are out in their numbers to vote, because they have realised the need to come  and exercise their civic duties.
    “If what I have observed in Onna is replicated across the state, then the election could be considered as free and fair.”

  • Sanwo-Olu: I am confident of victory 

    The Lagos governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed confidence in winning the 2019 gubernatorial elections.

    Sanwo-Olu, who spoke after voting at about 10:353am, at his Lateef Jakande Avenue/Femi Okunnu, Ikoyi, lolling unit suggested that there was a was a “divine” influence in his candidacy.

    He noted that he and his team had toured the nook and cranny of the state, connecting with Lagosians.

    Sanwo-Olu said: “Today makes it exactly six months – it was on the ninth of September – since I collected the APC gubernatorial form, so I think it is divine.”

    He added: “We are very, very confident, extremely confident with the level of work we’ve done, the level of engagement we’ve seen, with the level of interaction we’ve had that we will be successful and we’ll come out tops, but that is for INEC to determine and to announce.”

  • Election: Low turn out recorded in Ekiti

    There has been low turn out of voters in the Governorship and state House of Assembly elections in Ekiti State on Saturday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports  that it  is, however, not clear if the trend will change as the exercise progresses.

    The number of voters that came out for the exercise was far below expectation.

    The number is a far cry from what obtained during the last Presidential and National Assembly polls that witnessed huge turnout of voters.

    A number of residents were seen moving about freely on the streets contrary to INEC order on restriction of movements.

    NAN also observed that  security, which was tight during last election, was relaxed as there were only few armed security agents on the roads with none manning the polling venues in some places.

    Some towns where voters’ apathy was remarkable in the early hours of the day include Ado Ekiti, the state capital, Ifaki Ekiti, Ijero Ekiti and Emure Ekiti, among others.

    NAN

  • Low turnout of voters in Damaturu

    There is early low turnout of voters for the governorship and state house of assembly elections  in Damaturu, Yobe State capital as opposed to what happened during  Presidential and National Assembly Elections on 23rd, February 2019.
    Most of the polling units visited by our correspondent in Water Board, Bindigari, Mairi, Maisandari wards witnessed early low turnout of voters.
    The situation was however different at designated voting points of people from Gujba Local Government in Damaturu with high voters turnout.
    The Nation reports voting in Gujba was relocated to Damaturu due to security challenges in the area. The voters in the new arrangements are expected to cast their votes at Government Day Secondary School and Government Secondary School all in Damaturu.
    The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Yobe State Ahmad Makama told reporters in an encounter during monitoring that its is too early to determine or conclude in the turn.
    According to him, “it is just one hour since voting started. You cannot therefore determine or conclude as to whether the turnout is low or high. But as far as i am concerned, the turnout is building up and viting continues till 2.00pm,” Makama said.
    He was also impressed with the smooth process that is going on, adding that, “no adverse case has been recorded and voting is going on smoothly from all the reports i got from my people in the field”.
    Some of the voters who have casts their votes are confident that their party, the APC is going to clinch victory at the end of the polls.
    Modu Ari from Goniri said the APC has no viable opposition inbYobe State so they are waiting for the declaration of their candidate, Mai Mala Buni as governor.
    Another voter, Aisha Aji who travelled from Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government cannot wait for the election to be over for her to celebrate Mai Mala’s victory.
    “Today we have do our part. We are not waiting for our governor Mai Mala to be declared so that we start celebration,” Aisha informed.
    A PDP agent at one of the polling unit in Damaturu said he was satisfied with the peaceful conduct of the elections so far.

  • Hamzat hails exercise, looks forward to victory

    Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat on Saturday scored the Independent National Electoral Commission high in Epe, describing the election as free and fair.

    Hamzat spoke moments after casting his vote at about 10.30am, at his ward4, unit 2, Oke Balogun, Epe, polling unit.

    He said democracy is worth celebrating, urging the people to come out enmasse and vote for partiescand candidates of their choice.

    Hamzat who expressed happiness at the orderliness of the Governorship/house of assembly elections in Epe, expressed the hope that peace would be experienced throughout the state.

    He saluted all progressives and patriots who paid the supreme price to ensure that Nigeria has a sustainable democracy, adding that the sacrifices of people like the late pa Alfred Rewane, and Dr Beko Ransome Kuti, should not be allowed to be in vain.

    He urged Lagosians to vote for progress and development adding that with what he HSS seen so far, he has no doubt that his party will be victorious.

  • AA candidate Nwosu votes, upbeat on victory

    The governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in Imo state, Uche Nwosu, has expreased satisfaction over the conduct of the governorship and House of Assemly election.
    Nwosu who cast his vote, alongside his wife at his Eziama Obire Polling Unit 004, at exactly 9.48am, said he is certain he will defeat other candidates in the keenly contested election.
    The AA candidate also expressed satisfaction over the security situation,  adding that though the state was politically charged, the security Agencies were on top of the situation.
    According to him, he was expecting large turnout number of voters unlike in the last election.
    Nwosu said ‘I am satisfied with the voting process.you can see I voted with my wife. So far the Card Readers are working well. I will win, Action Action will form the next government in Imo”.

  • Lagos, Ogun peaceful, says AIG Shehu

    The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone Two Lawal Shehu has said Lagos and Ogun States were peaceful and elections going on unhindered.

    Shehu gave the assurance during an interview with reporters at the Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja on Saturday morning.

    According to him, voting was currently ongoing in the states devoid of intimidation, harassment and disruption.

    AIG Shehu said: “Election had started in ernest and on time. We have put strategies on ground and if you go round, you will see patrols. Police and other agencies are there. We have armed policemen moving from one polling unit to the other to checkmate miscreants who might want to cause trouble.

    “We have marine police and and Mobile men patrolling the riverine to ensure that hoodlums do not disrupt election in those areas.

    So far so good. We have not had any issues. I have gone round myself and also have been receiving reports from field commanders and Commissioners of Police across the senatorial districts.

    “We have received good news. So far, there has been no interruption, no disruption and no intimidation from any quarter.

    “Vehicular restriction is being enforced. If you go round, you will not see any vehicle on the road. There is synergy between the police and other security agencies.”

    The AIG’s claims however contradicts findings from most polling units at Ikeja where electoral officers are yet to arrive polling units.

    Our Correspondent gathered from one of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed for the election that they had to protest at the Registration Area Centres (RACs) following the non payment of their allowances.

    “We are just leaving the RACs now for the polling units. We had to protest non payment of our allowances. That is basically what caused the delays. They have paid some now, not all,” said the corps member who hurriedly embarked the bus taking them to their polling units.

    Similarly, our Correspondent observed that tricycles, motorcycles and commercial buses were operating around Okota around 7am, while voters already queued at polling units awaiting electoral officers.

  • Massive turnout in Enugu, INEC officials arrive early

    The governorship and House of Assembly elections took off as scheduled by INEC in all parts of Enugu state with an early turnout of voters.

    In most areas visited INEC officials and materials were already at voting centres just as voters continued to troop into polling units.
    In what appears a response to the call by INEC majority of voters have continued to arrive voting centres Saturday morning where commendable INEC officials were already on ground.
    Enugu is expecting a free and fair exercise just as was recorded during the Presidential and National Assembly polls.
    Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, contesting for reelection was at his polling booth, Amaube ward 1and 2, Orba where he cast his vote at exactly 9.35am.
    Resident Electoral Commissioner Dr. Emeka Ononamadu had called the bluff of APC leadership in the state who protested Thursday calling for postponement of the exercise.
    APC was however a lone voice as 70 other political parties in the state passed a vote of confidence on the REC and urged INEC to disregard whatever distribution and go ahead with the exercise.
    The REC who assured parties of a free and fair exercise in the state said he will not be intimidated insisting that the exercise would go on as planned.
    Addressing newsmen Friday in Enugu the REC assured that all arrangements has been put in place to ensure a hitch free excercise.
    He said that both sensitive and non sensitive materials had been distributed to various locations stressing that nothing will stop the conduct of the election.
    Ononamadu called on the peace loving people of Enugu to ignore all distractions and turn out enmasse to vote for candidates of their choice.