The Nation Newspaper

Category: Election 2019

  • Southwest youths, traders endorse Adelabu, Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun

    A group of youths, traders and artisans under the umbrella of Grand Council of Yoruba Youths (Agbarijo Egbe Odo Yoruba) has endorsed governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo, Lagos and Ogun States Adebayo Adelabu, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dapo Abiodun respectively.

    Representatives in the umbrella body include National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Market Women Association, Non Indigenes Association, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Okada Riders Association, Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), Egbe Omo Odua (USA and UK), as well as Civil Society Organisation led by Comrade Mrs. Kehinde Olaoni.

    The endorsement at Western Hall, Oyo State House of Assembly Complex, Secretariat, Ibadan, on Monday was chaired by Senator Ayo Fasanmi, who was represented by Otunba Jumoke Ogunkeyede.

    Noting President Muhammadu Buhari’s performance and intention earned him the second term ticket, Otunba Ogunkeyede explained the administration of President Buhari was slowed down by the leadership of the National Assembly, which he said consists of people with questionable characters.

    Read Also: Why we are supporting Sanwo-Olu – Omisore

    He pointed out the purpose of the gathering was to ensure that Yoruba states are toeing the line of progressives ruling in the country to ensure even development of the region.

    He added that the step will go a long way to guarantee the people of Southwest more dividend of democracy.

    While endorsing the APC gubernatorial candidates, the chairman of the occasion stated it was imperative for South Western states to align with government at the centre by voting governorship candidates of APC in Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections to sustain the progressive’s developmental agenda of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    The convener and Chairman Planning Committee, Comrade Awa Bamiji enjoined people in Oyo, Lagos, and Ogun States to come out on Saturday to vote for the candidates of the APC to ensure sustainable and rapid development of South West region.

    Bamiji commended President Muhammadu Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for creating a level playing ground to ensure that, not only free and fair but also credible election was conducted.

    Mrs. Iswat Ameringun who represented the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, Comrade (Mrs.) Kehinde Olaoni and other representatives from different parts of the region in the separate remarks on why Oyo, Lagos and Ogun States cannot afford to deviate from the government in power at the centre.

  • I’m still in Abia gov race, says Alex Otti

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has debunked rumours making rounds that he has withdrawn from the race.

    There were unconfirmed reports that Otti and Dr. Uche Ogah, gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had met in Umuahia South Local Government Area at the home of one of the chieftains of the APC for a possible coalition ahead of the Saturday March, 9 governorship election against incumbent Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, which ended in deadlock.

    It was gathered the meeting had barely ended when rumours started flying around in the state that Otti had agreed to step down for Ogah.

    But Otti in a release on Monday through Kazie Uko, Director, Media and Publicity Alex Otti Campaign Organisation debunked the claims, stressing he is still in the race, adding that he hasn’t stepped down for anybody.

    Part of the release reads “…Consequently, the Alex Otti Campaign Organisation hereby states unequivocally that the reports by an online media blog that Dr. Alex Otti has stepped down for the APC candidate, Uche Ogah, is false and deliberate attempt by desperate politicians to demoralise and confuse the Abia electorates.                                                                                                                                                                                                          “The Alex Otti Campaign Organisation urges Ndi Abia to remain focused in our resolve to vote Dr. Otti, on Saturday, March 9, 2019 thereby enthroning credible leadership at the government house in Abia State and not be distracted by false rumours by rejected and hopeless politicians and their collaborators in the fake media.

    Read Also: ‘How we ensured peaceful polls in Abia’

    “Just on Friday, March 1, 2019 the Accord Party governorship candidate, Barr. Emeka Uwakolam, led his deputy and teeming number of his party members to the Alex Otti Campaign Organisation where he formally stepped down for Dr. Otti, declaring that the APGA candidate stands tall above all the other candidates in the race.

    “Whereas this elicited excitement and hope across the political skyline of Abia State, it must have obviously sent shock waves across the camps of the opposition APC and the PDP, prompting the resort to fake news and propaganda by enemies of Abia State.

    “Abia people should be rest assured that Dr. Alex Otti is determined to win the March 9, 2019 election on the platform of APGA and will not trade that for anything. Just like we did in 2015, APGA will win the 2019 election, this time with even wider margin.

    “We urge Ndi Abia to remain vigilant and not allow anybody to pull wool over our eyes as we conclude the journey to reclaim our dear state next Saturday, from the hands of marauders who have plundered the state for past 20 years.”

  • We were not involved in Bayelsa killings, violence – APC

    The Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) has dissociated itself from the electoral violence in Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Council of the state.

    A Government House photographer, Reginald Dei, and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr. Seidougha Taribi, were shot in the area by gunmen in military uniform.

    But the State Publicity Secretary of Bayelsa APC, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, in a statement dismissed insinuations by Governor Seriake Dickson and the PDP that the deceased were victims of violence perpetrated by APC supporters.

    The APC challenged the picture painted by the state government, saying nothing could be further from the truth.

    The party in its account of the incident said: “On the day of election, materials were brought to Oweikorogha. PDP supporters led by Moses Taribi, Seidougha Taribi, Promise Elijah, Reginald Dei and others were fomenting trouble with the intent to destroy the electioneering materials or hijacking them for their party. APC supporters did all they could to allow voting to take place.

    “While voting was ongoing, a certain Perebigha Azikwe of the PDP arrived the polling unit with a locally made pistol, and snatched the card reader. At that instance, the APC Ward 2 Agent, Deizigha ThankGod, approached the PDP loyalists to plead with them to return the card reader, but they refused.

    “APC loyalists then insisted that voting could not continue. While they were concentrating on the other two units, PDP thugs led by Moses Taribi forcefully took away the remaining materials of that unit to Seidougha Taribi’s house and were thumb-printing in favour of the PDP.

    “At that point, the voters sought for security intervention to secure the electoral materials. Soldiers arrived Oweikorogha, and stormed Seidogha Taribi’s house. There was an exchange of gunshots.

    “The APC is concerned that houses of our members and their relations have been burnt down in the community and property looted. Our members are also being hunted for possible assassination.

    “The party condemns this unnecessary insult in Oweikorogha. APC is the victim, not the aggressor. We call on the armed and security forces to restore law and order in Oweikorogha community. Our members and other peace-loving residents in Southern Ijaw need protection”.

  • Igbo Presidency: APC Chieftain assures of Buhari’s support

    Igbo leader and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Livinus Okwara, has assured that President Muhammadu Buhari will still support Igbo Presidency in 2023, irrespective of  the fact that he could not win in any of the Southeast states in the just concluded Presidential election.

    Okwara who briefed journalists in Owerri, Thursday, noted that President Buhari’s support for the Igbo Presidency was predicated on justice and fairness and not on conditionality.

    According to the APC stalwart who has been in the forefront for the campaign for second term for Buhari in the Southeast, “President Buhari is a man that loves justice and will not renege on his support for the Igbo to produce the next President in 2023, being the only major tribe that has not done so”.

    Read Also: APC UK donates to campaign

    He however called on Igbo politicians to form a common front that will transcend party and religious divides ahead 2023, while frowning on the “ignoble” role played by Ohaneze in the buildup to the general election.

    Okwara also called for the scrapping of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo, for abandoning its mandate of protecting Igbo interest for partisan politics.

    In his words, “Ndigbo must form a strong front that will cut across party lines before 2023, we must put away our political and religious differences and choose and Igbo man that will be accepted across the country. I also support that Ohaneze Ndigbo as a group should be scrapped, it is no longer serving the purpose it has drifted into partisan politics that will not be in the interest of Ndigbo”.

  • Oyo: Ajanaku returns to APC, pledges support for Adelabu

    As part of plans to ensure the victory of the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo state, the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party for Ibadan North West/South West Federal Constituency in the just concluded National Assembly election, Dr Rotimi Ajanaku has made a return to the ruling APC.

    Ajanaku, accompanied by thousands of his supports at his Oke Ado base noted that his absence and that of his supporters was felt in the APC camp.

    He said his return to the APC was made possible by the “timely and uncommon intervention of the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi who unequivocally fast-tracked the whole process, through his assurances of immediate re-integration of my followers into the party hierarchy and other worthy considerations.”

    Reading his text entitled; “I am back to my root”, the business mogul noted that his consultations with his supporters, loyalists, party leaders, elders approved the request and insistence of the APC governorship candidate for him to return to the ruling party.

    He vowed to work for the success of the APC candidates at the governorship and house of assembly levels.

    Ajanaku said, “The only constant phenomenon in life is change.

    “In my press statement when I joined the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), after my unpalatable experience in the All Progressives Congress (APC), as I was denied the House of Representatives ticket, I emphasized that my supporters and loyalists are the determining factor in every political decision I take.

    “I do not always decide without their consent. These people were severely embittered and they insisted that I must run on any available platform since there was no provision for independent candidacy.

    Read Also: Yoruba group drums up support for Adelabu

    “You may recall that I reiterated that leaving the progressives bloc was a painful decision for me, judging by my investment and unquantifiable contribution since my foray into politics in the late 90s.

    “The outcome of the last National Assembly elections showed that my political camp is a formidable force to reckon with in Ibadan Northwest /Southwest Federal Constituency. Though, I didn’t win the election, the results of the election reflected our conspicuous absence in the APC.

    “Having consulted widely with the relevant stakeholders – the party hierarchy, public opinion leaders, supporters, loyalists and well-wishers, including the APC Governorship Candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu (Penkelemesi), who personally insisted on my comeback, I , Otunba Rotimi Ajanaku hereby succumbed to the public pressure to return to All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “This became necessary in order to support the governorship and state assembly candidates of the party and to further brighten their chances at polls on Saturday, March 9, 2019.

    “In view of this, I hereby direct my followers to start mobilising for the APC in their respective wards. Henceforth, all our campaign vehicles, billboards and other promotional materials should wear APC looks.”

     

     

  • Imo: PDP wins Orlu-Orsu-Oru East federal constituency

    …as INEC reverses self

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (I NEC ) Monday reversed its earlier decision on Orlu-Orsu-Oru East Federal Constituency and declared the People’s Democratic Party candidate, Jerry Alagbaso winner.

    The Returning Officer, Professor Innocent Madufor, had earlier declared election in the Constituency inconclusive.

    But announcing the results Monday, the Returning Officer disclosed that the PDP candidate polled a total of 21,273 votes to defeat his closest rival of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edwin Iheanacho, who got 20, 061 votes.

    Explaining INEC’s decision to announce the result, despite declaring it inconclusive earlier, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, stated that the circumstances surrounding that prompted INEC’s earlier decision has been resolved.

    Read Also: INEC dismisses corruption allegations in Zamfara

    He disclosed that elections in some areas were declared inconclusive by the Returning Officer because Card Readers were not deployed.

    In his words, “we won’t go back to conduct fresh elections in those areas where Card Readers were not deployed because it is stipulated in the INEC guideline that in those areas where Card Readers were not deployed either as a result of violence or compromise, the result should be returned as zero”.

  • ACPN denies endorsing Okowa

    The Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) said on Sunday that it has not endorsed the candidacy of the incumbent governor of Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa for this weekend’s governorship election.

    National Secretary of the party, Chief Paul Isamade said in a statement in Abuja that the ACPN was committed to winning the governorship election in Delta state and pulling the people of the state out of the backwardness the current PDP government is subjected the people to.

    Chief Isamade who is also the party’s governorship candidate in the state said the people of the state should disregard such insinuation and urged its members across the state to work hard for the success of the party’s governorship candidate in the state.

    The party’s national leadership also threatened to sanction any member of ACPN who defy the directive or seen in anti-party activity in whatever form.

    The statement also urged the public to disregard any publication that includes the name of the party in respect of purported endorsement.

    “Allied Congress Party of Nigeria “ACPN” wish to inform the general public that the party in delta state has not and will not endorse any other candidate in the March 9th governorship election in delta state because the party is contesting the said electrion.

    “The general public should disregard any publication that includes the name of the party in respect of the above subject.  The party also warns all it’s members in the state to work for the success of the party and her candidate only.”

  • Polls: Masked men attack SDP candidate in Ondo

    Vandalise campaign vehicles

     

    Suspected hoodlums at the weekend reportedly attacked the campaign train of a candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) contesting the Saturday’s House of Assembly election in Akure, the Ondo state Capital.

    Adeniyan’s campaign train was said to have been attacked at Oke Aro area of Akure during a tour of some wards in the town.

    The SDP candidate,a Journalist and publisher of  the weekly”Trace News Magazine” is contesting to represent the Akure South Constituency II at the Ondo State House of Assembly.

    Sources said the suspected hoodlums damaged some vehicles in the campaign train and also shot sporadically to disrupt the activities line up for the campaign.

    One of members of the Adeniyan Campaign Organisation confirmed the attack to ‘The Nation’  on telephone yesterday.

    He said the suspected hoodlums were all armed with dangerous weapons including guns and matchetes.

    According to him “We were on the tour of two wards in the constituency area. And at the end of the tour, we went to Oke Aro to meet a political friend.

    “Unfortunately, on our way back, we made a brief stop at the Abiodun junction to greet some community leaders.

    “But as we were about to take our leave, the three masked men came running towards us from the street, and smashed the windscreen of our music truck.

    Read Also: Lassa fever claims 15 lives in Ondo

    “They shot into one of our branded cars through the windscreen but the courageous people in the area gave them a hot chase.

    “Immediately, they flew the area and starting shooting in the air to scare people away and ran away in same direction they came from” he said.

    Adeniyan expressed great shocks and grief at the damages done on his campaign vehicles by the hoodlums.

    According to him, the latest attacks on his campaign trains was carried out by members of opposition who are already being threatened by his rising popularity in the constituents.

    He, however, said the attack has been reported at the B ‘Division Station’ of the Ondo State Police Command in Akure.

    The SDP candidate said “I was shocked to say the least and there have been lot of attacks on my campaign for weeks since we started this electioneering process.

    “Our banners are being stolen every day and poster torn everywhere in the Akure metropolis

    “However, I thank God that none of my team was injured and I hope the police in Ondo state will investigate this attack and also get to the roots of the matter”.

     

  • Pro Buhari group to Atiku: respect verdict of Nigerians

    The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has told the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar to respect the verdict of Nigerians, as well as the position of International Observers on the just-concluded Presidential election.

    Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke said in a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja that virtually all the countries and international bodies that sent representatives to observe the election are convinced that the outcome of the election reflects the wishes of majority of the Nigerian electorate.

    The group said that all indications point to a President Muhammadu Buhari win, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), recalling “that Atiku Abubakar tweeted just after addressing the media recently that the position of many international observers corroborated his view that the election was a sham.

    “But Nigerians know by now that this is a fallacy as many international observers, including reputable locals, have released preliminary reports that are consistent with the outcome of the electoral process”.

    The pro-Buhari group said nothing better captured the mindset of the International community on the election than the position of the UK Minister of State for Africa, Harriet Baldwin.

    “We at BMO are satisfied that in the midst of PDP’s efforts to discredit the process, Britain, which had its representatives on ground as observers before and after the election, is emphatic that the result declared by the Nigerian electoral commission is consistent with the result obtained through the civil society Parallel Vote Tabulation process.

    “If this is not an endorsement of the process based on international best practices, we wonder what it is, especially at a time the opposition is fighting tooth and nail to smear the process as the ‘worst in thirty years.’”

    The group also pointed at the position of a reputable observer group, Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) Africa which released a report that tallied with INEC’s result of the Presidential election.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole to Atiku: we’ll meet you in court

    “A comparison of INEC official results with YIAGA AFRICA #WatchingTheVote estimate showed that what was announced by the Chief Returning Officer and INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu is consisting with field reports from 3,898 observers deployed across the country.

    “In its post-election statement, the US and UK-backed group had validated President Buhari’s victory over his closest challenger on the basis of reports from 1,491 or 98.4 per cent of sampled polling units

    “YIAGA Africa’s findings showed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) should receive between 50.0 per cent and 55.8 per cent of the vote; and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) should receive between 41.2 per cent and 47.0 per cent of the vote.

    “INEC’s result however showed that President Buhari scored 55.6 percent while Atiku Abubakar had 41.2 percent, so YIAGA’s position tallies with what was announced by Professor Yakubu at the National Collation Centre in Abuja.

    “These figures are consistent with the official results as announced by INEC. For both APC and PDP, the official results fall within the PVT estimated ranges.”

    BMO said if Atiku has any doubt about the veracity of YIAGA Africa’s position that President Buhari won fair and square, he should remember that its technical partners are the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the US-based National Democratic Institute (NDI).

  • ‘Why Wike is desperate to be sole gov candidate in Rivers’

    The governorship candidate of Accord Party in Rivers State, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has stated Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is desperate to be sole governorship candidate in Rivers because of his poor performance and failure to deliver real dividends of democracy to people of the state.

    The oil magnate (Lulu-Briggs), who until September 28, 2018 was a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke on Friday in Port Harcourt at a news conference.

    Lulu-Briggs said: “We state in very strong terms that we are aware that this case (by Baridoo) is another dubious shenanigan by Wike, who is afraid to go into any legitimate contest in the forthcoming Rivers State governorship election and he is doing everything possible, including sponsoring court cases against strong opponents, in order to achieve his primitive ambition to contest the 2019 governorship election against himself alone.

    “Wike’s connection in this dubious act is buttressed by the fact that Baridoo’s counsel, Wori N. Wori Esq, is from the law firm of Emmanuel Aguma, SAN, the deceased immediate past Attorney-General to Wike.

    “Baridoo got elected as Rivers Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), months after his purported nomination as Accord Party’s governorship candidate, a position known to be occupied only by the cronies of the governor.

    “We are at a loss to fathom how Baridoo, who claims to have resigned as Rivers State Accord Party’s Chairman to contest the October 4, 2018 governorship primaries could be elected a month after (in November 2018), as the State Chairman of IPAC, a position reserved only for party chairmen. It is obvious that Baridoo and his paymaster, Wike, are out to insult the intelligence of Rivers people.

    “They said Baridoo, who has since been disowned by the Accord Party’s National Working Committee (NWC), was appointed into the caretaker committee of Khana LGA of Rivers State by the Wike-led PDP government.

    “During the recent PDP’s presidential rally at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Baridoo did not only declare support for the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, he led 56 so-called governorship candidates to step down for Wike and endorsed him for a second term.”

    He added: “My quest to liberate Rivers State from the shackles of wicked politicians, who want to continue to punish and impoverish our men and women, instigate our youths into violence and bloodshed and deny our children quality education, is still on track.

    “Dumo Lulu-Briggs is still in the race by the grace of God. I have no godfather, but God the father and by the grace of God and the will of Rivers people, we shall triumph and start the process to secure the future of every Rivers man, woman and child.”

    The governorship candidate of Accord party also urged Rivers people to be law abiding and continue to support Accord as a political party.

    He insisted that he was the recognised and officially-endorsed Rivers governorship candidate of Accord party, both by the NWC, leadership of the party and by INEC.

    The oil magnate also maintained that Baridoo did not participate in Accord party’s primary election, conducted by the NWC/NEC of the party on October 4 last year as he claimed, with the national executive of the party earlier stating that Baridoo did not procure the expression of intent and the governorship nomination forms of the party.

    The governorship candidate of Accord party noted that there was no proof that INEC issued Baridoo with form CF001, which is the document given to officially-nominated party candidates.