The Nation Newspaper

Category: Election 2019

  • Warri Federal Seat: Ereyitomi promises to tackle poverty, others

    Winner of the Warri federal constituency seat in the just concluded National Assembly elections, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi says he is out to tackle poverty and communal conflicts across the area.

    The director-general of Chief Thomas Ereyitomi Constituency Office, Chief Robinson Ariyo, disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday, in Warri.

    Unveiling its cardinal plans for the next four years, which include economic development, capacity building, peace building and research and advocacy, the DG pointed out they are in tandem with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as well as the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) master plan.

    He explained the high poverty rate, conflicts in communities among others, informed the four themes.

    Noting that the office may not be able to succeed in everything it hopes to deliver, the Ariyo stated that each intervention that is embarked on will be done in a way that it will be sustainable.

    Lamenting that economy of Warri has suffered for too long, he said: “It is one thing to promise, it is another thing to deliver on the promise.

    “Our people have been left behind for far too long. We need to take our proper place in the committee of oil producing communities.

    “If the society, Warri Federal Constituency is better today, it will be better for all of us. It is on record that Nigeria is at the top of poverty rating in the world.

    “In the area of peace building, most of our communities are polarized. But there is no conflict that is unresolvable. We want to make a deliberate effort to ensure that our communities live in peace.”

    Expressing gratitude to the people for their support throughout the elections, Chief Ariyo urged aggrieved individuals “to sheathe” swords and pursue development of the land.

  • Akala rejoins APC, dumps gubernatorial ambition

    A former Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, has returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He is the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the March 9 governorship election.

    The former governor, The Nation learnt, made the decision earlier today after meeting the APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in Abuja and Lagos.

    A reliable source within the party confirmed that the Ogbomoso-born politician will make a statement on his new decision today for his supporters across the state to understand the reasons for his move ahead of the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly election.

    READ ALSO: Breaking: APC NWC suspends Amosun, Okorocha

    His return to the APC will deal a heavy blow on the alliance he was leading among opposition parties against the governing party in the state.

    He was leading an alliance between ADP, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Prior to the election, Akala had vowed that all opposition parties would do anything to end to the reins of the APC in the state.

    But the intervention of Tinubu and other national leaders made him change his mind.

    The former governor left the APC last October to pick the governorship ticket of the ADP.

    He is widely believed to have influenced the victory of the PDP in Ogbomoso Zone in the February 23 presidential election.

     

     

     

  • Provide more security for gov polls, Minister tells Police, others

    Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau on Friday urged security operatives to redouble their efforts, to ensure the safety of lives and property during the March 9, 2019 elections.

    Dambazau commended security agencies and the electorate on the peaceful conduct of the February 23, Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    According to the statement by the Director (Press & Public Relations), Mohammed Manga: “Dambazau thanked security agencies for their professionalism and conduct before, during and after the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    “The Minister also applauded Nigerians for coming out enmass to exercise their civic responsibility, the outcome of which had been adjudged free, fair and credible.

    “Although the 23rdFebruary 2019 Elections were overwhelmingly peaceful, General Dambazau however, condemned reported cases of violence in few areas and further condoles with families of those who lost their loved ones in such circumstances.

    “He therefore, directed that security agencies should redouble their efforts, to ensure the safety of lives and property during the 9thMarch 2019 elections.

    “The Minister re-emphasised government’s resolve to deal with any person, or group of persons in possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons, or engaging in electoral violence/thuggery and other acts of threats to internal security, in accordance with the laws.”

  • I remain APC flag bearer in Niger east, says Senator-elect

    The Senator-elect for Niger East, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Musa has described news making round that the All Progressives Congress (APC) might have made a U-turn on his candidature as false.

    He said reports that the party has endorsed Senator David Umaru as the party’s flag bearer for the zone as false and an act of crass desperation.

    The report, he said, was a deliberate attempt to ignite crisis and set the state, especially Niger East senatorial district, on an avoidable and unnecessary political turmoil.

    The Senator-elect in a statement by a member of the Advisory Committee of Mohammed Sani Musa Campaign Council, Honorable Nma Kolo, said the publication titled: “Niger East: APC Makes U-turn, Backs David Umaru” was an impunity to upturn the collective will of the peace loving people of Niger East Senatorial district.

    “There is no iota of truth in the publication. It is another ploy to upturn the will of the people which was earlier declared at the party’s primary where the Senator-elect has emerged as the APC candidate and his overwhelming endorsement at the February 23 National Assembly election was a testament of the love his people have for him.

    “It will be foolhardy for Senator David Umaru to get what he lost at the party’s primary through the pages of newspapers.

    “Aside from the emergence of the Senator-elect as the flag bearer at the party through primary, the Federal High Court judgement also affirmed him as the bonafide APC candidate, a position that was further endorsed at a general election”.

    The statement further noted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had already recognised Mohammed Sani Musa as the Senatorial candidate before the elections.

    He added that the electoral body had in a letter dated 15th February, 2019 signed by Mrs. Rose Oriaram-Anthony, the Secretary of the Commission, directed the Niger state Resident Electoral Commissioner to remove Senator David Umaru as the Senatorial candidate of APC for Niger East Senatorial District.

    The letter, he added, instructed Umaru should be replaced with Musa in pursuant to a court order.

    Musa said: “Titled, “Forwarding of Commission’s Decision Pursuant to Order of Court in suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/140/2018 – Mohmmed Sani Musa V. APC& 2 Others”, the letter directed the REC to update the record and reflect it on the final list.

    “The truth of the matter is that Alhaji Mohammed Sani Musa, remain not only the APC candidate, he is also the Senator-elect for Niger East Senatorial District.”

    The Senator-elect called on his supporters to disregard any information contrary to the facts that have been on ground while urging perpetrators of such news to avoid means of igniting crisis in the state.

  • Kebbi PDP rejects Presidential/NASS elections

    The Presidential and National Assembly elections in Kebbi State last Saturday were compromised, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged.

    It alleged the elections were marred by irregularities, targeted violence, voter inducement, mutilation of PDP valid votes and open collaboration by security agents.

    The PDP also alleged military men and traditional rulers forced voters to thumb print against their preferences.

    Kebbi state chairman of the party, Alhaji Haruna Saidu, told reporters on Thursday the elections totally abused provisions of the Electoral Act.

    He said: “A template that saw the jettisoning of card readers, massive thumb printing of ballot papers, pre-writing of results, denial of party agents access to polling units, over voting and violence against party members.

    “These were prevalent in Argungu,  Jega ,  and Bagudo Local government Areas.

    “Valid votes gotten by PDP were randomly rendered invalid through double thumb printing.”

    He alleged All Progressives Congress (APC) agents openly shared money to induce voters.

    “This was the case in Bagudo, Suru, jega and Argungu,” adding military men were also used to intimidate PDP agents.

    The PDP chairman said: “On the above premise, we make bold to say that the Presidential and National Assembly Elections in Kebbi State was not free and fair.

    “There was widespread irregularities and violence against PDP. The result announced by INEC is not the true reflection of votes cast in Kebbi.”

  • Observers adjudge polls in Kano free and fair

    The Coalition of INEC Accredited Domestic Election Observers in Kano state has described the presidential and National Assembly election in Kano as free, fair, calm and peaceful, urging the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and other losers on the exercise to accept defeat and join hands with the winners to build the nation.

    Addressing journalists at the Kano Press Center, the Team Leader of the Group, Comrade Friday Maduka, commended INEC for providing electoral materials in due time, just as he hailed the massive turnout of voters during the elections across the state.

    “Our team commends the electoral umpire, INEC, for its wonderful preparations in providing all the needed logistics and materials for the election.

    Read Also: Observers hail INEC, security agencies in Kano

    “The security agents are hereby applauded for providing a secured and peaceful environment for the election. We appreciate the people of Kano state for their proper conduct during and after the election, especially, for showing maturity and putting away the stings of violence,” he added.

    Maduka further stated that, “While advising the winners should be magnanimous in victory by running an all-inclusive government for the rapid development of the state in particular and the nation at large, we urge the losers to accept it in good faith.”

     

  • APC, Buhari to determine next NASS leaders, says Jibrin

    Former chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumuni Jibrin Kofa on Thursday in Kano said the leadership of the All Progressive Congress ( APC ) and President Muhammadu Buhari will play major roles in determining the formation of the new leadership of the National Assembly.

    Kofa, who became famous for exposing the ‘budget padding saga’ in 2016, urged members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 9th National Assembly to suppress their ambition and work together as a family to avoid rancour in selecting the leadership of the National Assembly.

    The lawmaker, who was recently re-elected to represent Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency in Kano, said there was need for the APC caucus in the National Assembly to involve the party leadership and consult Buhari for advice to avoid the mistakes of the past that almost tore the ranks of the party apart.

    According to him: “From the information I have, our party, the APC has the majority of members in the 9the National Assembly.

    “We are advising our colleagues that everybody should suppress his ambition for now.

    “We will approach the party leadership, and of course approach the president and engage with him and take instructions on what needs to be done.

    “So, precisely, if you want me to put it in a categorical way, we will listen to what the President wants us to do and of course what the party wants us do, and that is exactly what is going to be done. We will not make the mistake of the past.”

    The third-time member of the House of Representatives also thanked his constituents for giving him another chance to represent them at the Green Chamber.

    He promised to use his wealth of experience to sponsor bills that will have positive impact not only to the people of his consistency, but to all Nigerians.

    Kofa also congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari for his well-deserved victory at the polls.

    He appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to rally round President Buhari to take the country to the next level.

    The lawmaker also called on Kano electorate to reciprocate the support they gave APC in the just-concluded elections by trooping out en mass to re-elect Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and APC candidates for the state House of Assembly come March 9.

  • Observer: INEC ensured the will of Nigerians prevailed

    One of the accredited observers by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections, Connected Development (CODE), on Thursday, commended the commission for ensuring that the will of Nigerians prevailed.

    CODE, a civil society organisation, hailed the commission for remaining firm despite pressures from political actors to truncate the electoral process.

    Head of Mission, CODE Election Observation Team, Hamzat Lawal, stated these in Abuja on Thursday, during the presentation of findings by Uzabe, a real-time web based map situation technology used by CODE to gather real time security intelligence and observed the electoral process during the elections.

    Lawal appealed to opposition political parties and other stakeholders to act responsibly and pursue peaceful and legal resolution of their grievances.

    He said: “We commend INEC for allowing the will of the people to be heard and for remaining firm on her duty regardless of pressure from political actors that want to truncate the electoral process.

    “We urge citizens to support INEC, particularly the Resident Electoral Commissioners and they should come out enmasse to vote their candidate of choice for the gubernatorial elections.

    “CODE hereby calls on opposition parties and other stakeholders to act responsibly, to pursue peaceful and legal resolution of their grievances and to uphold the integrity of the political and electoral process.”

    Lawal said there was need to reform the electoral process in order to allow for diaspora voting.

    He also called for the strengthening of the autonomy of the commission in order for INEC to provide more effective and objective electoral process.

    “CODE suggest that in order to enhance confidence in the electoral process, INEC’s complete autonomy must be strengthened to ensure it provides more effective and objective electoral process.

    “INEC must develop result-management process using competent and secure technology and must provide a more conducive environment for collating results in regions.

    “INEC must introduce reforms that allow for Nigerians in the diaspora to vote the candidate of their choice.

    “Under-age voting is a violation of the Nigerian constitution and it is prevalent in some regions of the country. INEC must work to curb this issue as it serves as an indictment on the credibility of election process and ultimately a threat to our democracy,” he said.

    Lawal condemned election-based violence during the process.

    “Security remain a prevalent challenge confronting the nation’s growth and electorates should not have to die or lose loved ones at the cost of participating in the electoral process.

    “As an accredited observer, we are disheartened at the poor level of preparedness shown by the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a violence-free election, despite the week-long postponement of the election to allow for adequate logistics and security readiness,” he added.

  • I’m proud to be youngest woman in 8th Assembly, says Omosede

    The lawmaker representing Ovia in the House of Representatives, Barrister Omosede Igbinedion, has said she is proud to be the youngest woman in the 8th Assembly about to terminate.

    Barrister Igbinedion, who lost her return bid to candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Dennis Idahosa, said it was a thing of pride for her to be the first woman from Edo State to ever go to the House of Representatives.

    Igbinedion, in a statement, said the electoral fraud and intimidation that led to her mandate being stolen was worrisome and threat to women limited place in a deteriorated democracy.

    Read Also: Yobe Assembly loses Deputy Speaker

    She stated that women only had 6.4 percent representation in the present administration, a regression from the President Goodluck Johnathan’s 33 percent in accordance with the global affirmative action quota of 35 percent.

    According to her: “Women deserve to have their needs represented by someone who truly understands them, women deserve the opportunity to participate in the political space and occupy a seat at the decision-making table.

    “To the young women in Ovia, whether in an official capacity or not, I shall continue to fight for us and champion our issues. Women let’s ask for more, we deserve more.”

  • APC leaders assure Ekere of victory in Akwa Ibom

    The leadership of the APC on Wednesday reassured the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom, Nsima Ekere, of victory at the polls.

    The reassurance came in Abuja shortly after the presidential acceptance speech was given by President Buhari while receiving the certificate of return from the INEC Chairman, following his victory at the nationwide polls on Saturday.

    The state Chairman of the party,Ini Okopido also reteirated the  assurance of victory to the gubernatorial candidate.

    The Akwa Ibom gubernatorial candidate, Obong Nsima Ekere has campaigned across the length and breadth of the state, and vowed to return the state to its enviable place in the comity of states.

    Read Also: Ogun APC rally: Police arrest six suspects

    Also, the presidency has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the need to ensure free and fair elections, not only in Akwa Ibom but across the country.

    This became imperative following reports of alleged voter intimidation and violent activities by the opposition in the last Presidential and National Assembly elections, especially in Akwa Ibom State.

    Obong Nsima Ekere promised to lead the state into an era of collective progress and prosperity.