The Nation Newspaper

Category: Election 2019

  • Buhari’s victory signifies acceptability of his leadership — Akeredolu

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Wednesday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in the 2019 presidential election signified the acceptability of his leadership by a majority of Nigerian citizens.

    Buhari won the 2019 Presidential election under the All Progressives Congress (APC) with 15,191,847 votes to beat Abubakar Atiku of the People’s Democratic Party (Party) with 11, 262, 978.

    The remarks were made in a statement in Akure on Wednesday, by Segun Ajiboye, Chief Press Secretary to the Ondo State Governor.

    According to the statement, Akeredolu joins millions of Nigerians to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election as president-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for a second four-year tenure.

    Read Also: Akeredolu to electorate: vote for APC candidates

    “The governor says the victory belongs to all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic and religious beliefs.

    “He is optimistic that the next level promised Nigerian citizens by President Buhari will indeed take the country to unprecedented heights.

    “Gov. Akeredolu hails all stakeholders, including local and international observers, security agencies, social commentators and members of the media, who in one way or the other played a role in ensuring the peaceful conduct of the election.

    “He particularly commends the Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC), for conducting a free, fair and credible presidential election accepted by observers and the international community,” the statement said.

    NAN

  • Ganduje: Those doubting Kano presidential results are unserious

    Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje on Wednesday described those doubting the elections results from his state as unserious.

    From his state, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had got the highest votes of 1,464,768 to defeat the People’s Democratic Party’s  (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar, who scored 391,593 from the state.

    While there were no incidences of violence in the state, seventeen local government areas were affected by election cancellation.

    Ganduje who was at the Aso Villa to congratulate President Buhari on his re-election, spoke with State House correspondents.

    Asked to react to those questioning the figures that came from Kano State, he said, “First of all, they are not serious people, they are people who are anti-democracy.

    “If you have seen how the elections were conducted I think everybody will agree that INEC tried very well. Even though there was low turnout of voters because we were expecting to get much more than that, but the election was fair and free.

    “Those who say we couldn’t have got that much are ignorant of the politics of Kano.” he added

    Read Also: Ganduje to would-be losers: accept defeat

    According to him, the result of the Presidential and the National Assembly in the state has put the APC in good position to win the March 9th gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.

    Asked why he did not deliver on the five million votes he promised, he said, “Well, I told you it’s because of the low turnout of voters but I promise you next time…let’s look towards the governorship election.”

    On his chances on the coming governorship election, Ganduje said “My chances are very high and you can see the beginning of it with the presidential elections. We gave Mr. President the highest number votes, all the three senators are back, 24 House of Representatives members out of 24 have succeeded. What else are you expecting? That is the foundation.

    “Another thing is that Mr. President has done a lot of work in Nigeria and in Kano and as a government we have done a lot in Kano State. If there was negative reaction we would have seen it from the presidential election.

    “That is why I say we are heading for a huge success in Kano both in the gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections.”

    On why he was in the Presidential Villa, the Kano governor said, “First of all we have to thank almighty God. I am here to expressed my happiness and congratulate Mr. President personally and to also thank all Nigerians for voting Mr. President for the second term, for voting the most honest person because he laid the foundation for the development of a new Nigeria, and a man who loves Nigeria more than himself, a man who believes in free and fair elections.

    “We are forging ahead in terms of getting the right thing done in Nigeria. So, I’m here to congratulate him personally before we come as a group from Kano to congratulate him.” he added

     

  • Breaking: Atiku rejects Buhari’s victory, heads to court

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has rejected the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 23 presidential election.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, Wednesday morning, declared President Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the election.

    But in a statement Wednesday entitled; Democracy Will Not Be Emasculated in Nigeria, Atiku said democracy was debased in the conduct of the elections.

    “Consequently, I hereby reject the result of the February 23, 2019 sham election and will be challenging it in court”, Atiku said.

    Stating his objection to the outcome of the election, as announced by INEC, Atiku said, “With regards to the presidential elections that took place on February 23, 2019, it is clear that there were manifest and premeditated malpractices in many states which negate the results announced.

    “One obvious red flag is the statistical impossibility of states ravaged by the war on terror generating much higher voter turnouts than peaceful states.

    “The suppressed votes in my strongholds are so apparent and amateurish, that I am ashamed as a Nigerian that such could be allowed to happen. How can total votes in Akwa-Ibom, for instance, be 50% less than what they were in 2015?

    “Another glaring anomaly is the disruption of voting in strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and diverse other states, with the authorities doing little or nothing and in some cases facilitating these unfortunate situations.

    “The militarization of the electoral process is a disservice to our democracy and a throwback to the jackboot era of military dictatorship. In some areas of the country, such as, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Imo states, troops deployed for the elections turned their guns on the very citizens they were meant to protect. This is condemnable and should not be associated with our electoral process in the future.

    “I am a democrat and there are democratic avenues available to present the truth to the nation and the watching world. Already, many international observers have given their verdicts, which corroborate our observations. I am sure more will come in the coming hours and days”.

    The PDP candidate said he would have called to congratulate President Buhari within seconds of being aware of his victory if he had lost in a free and fair election.

    He added that he had struggled over the years with his services to help unite Nigeria by being a bridge between the North and the South.

    Continuing, he said, “However, in my democratic struggles for the past three decades, I have never seen our democracy so debased as it was on Saturday, February 23, 2019.

    “2007 was a challenge, but President Yar’ Adua was remorseful. In 2019, it is sad to see those who trampled on democracy thumping their noses down on the Nigerian people.

    “I want to assure my supporters and the entire Nigerian people that together, we will not allow democracy to be emasculated.

    Read Also: ‘Bindow reduced Atiku’s margin in Adamawa’

    “I hope and pray Nigerians will someday summon the courage to defend democracy. That is the only way we can move away from being the world headquarters for extreme poverty”

    The PDP candidate thanked the Nigerian people who trooped out in their millions to perform their civic duty on Saturday.

    “The patriotism of Nigerians is heartwarming and affirms my oft-repeated statement that we are brothers and sisters born from the womb of one mother Nigeria”, he added.

  • Video: Buhari’s reaction after INEC declared him re-elected

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday was declared winner of the 2019 Presidential election by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The Returning Officer for the 2019 presidential elections, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the declaration at exadtly 4:37am.

    He polled 15,191,847 votes to defeat his closest rival, former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the presidential poll conducted on February 23 who had 11,262,978 votes.

    Buhari in a video posted by Bashir Ahmad, his personal assistant on new media, the president was seen seating calmly while the INEC chairman announced him the winner.

  • Buhari thank Nigerians, says I will continue to serve

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commended Nigerians for keeping faith with his government and giving him another four-year mandate, assuring that he will continue to serve the nation diligently.

    The President who spoke at the headquarters of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the Central Area of Abuja shortly after he was declared winner of the Presidential election also commended the International community for their interest in Nigeria and their contribution to the success of the election.

    He regretted that even though the residential and National Assembly election was largely peaceful, some political thugs tried to undermine the process, leading to some casualties in some parts of the country.

    while also commending the security agents for keeping the country safe during the elections, he charged them to redouble their efforts and ensure a peaceful governorship and state assembly election on the 9th of March.

    The President also commended the National leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for proving leadership as the co-Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council as well as the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomholle for the role they played.

    President Buhari was also full of appreciation to the members of the Presidential Campaign Council as well as all those who contributed in one way or the other to the success of the election.

    Those who were at the campaign headquarters include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, members of the National Working Committee and member of the Presidential Campaign Council.

    The President is expected to receive his certificate of return at about 2.00pm on Wednesday

     

  • Update: Buhari re-elected as President of Nigeria

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared President Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the 2019 presidential election, held on Saturday Feb. 23.

    The Returning Officer for the 2019 presidential elections, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the declaration at 4.37am.

    He polled 15,191,847 votes to defeat his closest rival, former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the presidential poll conducted on February 23 who had 11,262,978 votes.

    The INEC chairmain said: “That Muhammadu Buhari, having scored the highest number of votes and satisfied the provision of the electoral act is hereby declared the winner of the presidential election.’’

    Read also: 2019 Presidential Results

    He announced that certificate of return will be issued to the President-elect and Vice President-elect by 2 pm on Wednesday.

    Monday’s collation opened with Niger State, which went to the APC with 612,371 votes. PDP scored 218, 052.

    There were 2,375,568 registered voters across the 15 local government areas of the state and 911, 964  voters were accredited. The state recorded a total vote of 896,976 and 851,937 valid votes. Forty-five votes were rejected; 71,200 were cancelled.

    In Jigawa State, Buhari scored 794,738 as against Atiku’s 289, 895 votes.

    Read also: Buhari tops with 15.19m

    With 27 local government areas, Jigawa had 2,104,889 registered voters; 1,171,801 were accredited to vote; 1,149,922 voted. Of the votes, 1,106,244 were valid and 43, 678 were rejected.

    The APC candidate also won in Kaduna State with 993,445 votes as against PDP’s 640, 612.

    Atiku fought back in Anambra State, garnering 524,738 votes as against APC’s 33,298.

    He won with a slim margin in Oyo State where the PDP polled 366,690 as against APC’s 365,229.

    Atiku’s home state, Adamawa, gave the PDP 410,266 votes.  Buhari got 378,078.

    The 21 council areas in Adamawa had 1,959,322 registered voters; 874,920 voters were accredited. There were 811,534 valid votes; 49,222 were rejected.

    The President won in Bauchi with 798,428 votes. Atiku scored 209,313. Valid votes were 1,024, 307; 37,648 were rejected. Votes cast stood at 1,061, 955

    The APC beat the PDP in Lagos State with 580,825 votes; PDP scored  448,015.

    The ruling party also secured victory for his candidate in Ogun State where it scored 281,762 as against PDP’s 194, 655.  The registered number of voters in the Gateway State was 2,336,887; 613,399 were accredited and 605,938 voted.

    Edo State, with 18 local government areas and 2,150,127 registered voters, went to Atiku with 275, 691 votes. Buhari scored 267,842 votes.

    For the poll, 604,915 were accredited. There were 560,711 valid votes. The rejected ballot stood at 38, 517, leaving the total vote cast at 599, 228.

    The number of votes that were cancelled in 48 polling units stood at 42,176.

    In Benue State, PDP got a narrow victory margin over the ruling party with 356,817 votes as against APC’s 347,668.

    Edo, with a voter population of 2, 391,276, has a total vote cast of 763,872. The valid votes were 728,912. The rejected votes were 34,960 and 122,989 votes were cancelled in 172 polling units.

    Atiku won Imo State with 334,923 votes as against Buhari’s 140,463 votes.

    There were 2,037,569 registered would-be voters; 585,741 were accredited to vote. The valid votes were 511,586 and 31,191 votes were rejected. The number of votes cast stood at 542,777; 63,048 were cancelled in 97 polling units in 12 council areas.

    Plateau State also gave its vote to Atiku who scored 548,665. Buhari scored 468,555.

    The state had 2,423, 381 registered voters and 1,074,042 were accredited.

    The valid votes were 1,034,853 of which 1,063,862 voted. The number of rejected votes stood at 28,009.

    Kano went to Buhari who scored 1,464,768 against Atiku’s 392,593.

    The Northwest state, where 5,381,581 were registered to vote, recorded the highest turnout with 2,006,410 accredited voters.

    The votes cast were 1,964,751. The valid votes were 1,891,134. The rejected votes were 73,617 and the cancelled votes were 43,900, across 69 polling units.

    Katsina, Buhari’s home state, also went the way of Buhari, who scored 1,232,133 against Atiku’s 308,056.

    It has 3,219,422 registered voters and 1,628,865 were accredited for the election.

    The total valid votes in Katsina is 1,555,473 and 1,619,185 cast their ballots.

    The rejected votes were 63,712 and the cancelled votes stood at 12,027.

    Taraba went to the PDP with 374,743 votes as against APC’s 326 996 votes.

    The total registered votes were 1,777,105. The accredited voters stood at 756 111.

    The valid votes were 712 877 and 28,687 were rejected.

    THE FINAL SCORES

    STATES                 APC       PDP

    Abia                     85,058      219,698

    Adamawa          378,078      410,266

    Akwa Ibom         175,429     395,832

    Anambra             33,298      524,738

    Bauchi                798,428      209,313

    Bayelsa               118,821      197,933

    Benue                 347,668      356,817

    Borno                  836,496        71,788

    Cross River        117,302      295,737

    Delta                   221,292      594,068

    Ebonyi                  90,726      258,573

    Edo                     267,842      275,691

    Ekiti                    219,231      154,032

    Enugu                   54,423      355,553

    Gombe                402,961      138,484

    Imo                   140,463        334,923

    Jigawa                794,738      289,895

    Kaduna              993,445      649,612

    Kano                1,464,768      391,593

    Katsina           1,232,133      308,056

    Kebbi                  581,552      154,282

    Kogi                    285,894      218,207

    Kwara                308,984      138,184

    Lagos                  580,825      448,015

    Nasarawa          289,903      283,847

    Niger                  612,371      218,052

    Ogun                  281,762      194,655

    Ondo                  241,769      275,901

    Osun                   347,634      337,377

    Oyo                     365,229      366,690

    Plateau               468,555      548,665

    Rivers                 150,710      473,971

    Sokoto                490,333      361,604

    Taraba                324,906      374,743

    Yobe                   497,914        50,763

    Zamfara             438,682      125,423

    FCT                    152,224      259,997

    TOTAL:        15,191,847  11,262,978

  • 2019 Presidential Results

    PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS

  • PDP demands stoppage of collation of presidential election results by INEC

    . . .Seeks cancellation of results in Borno, Yobe, Zamfara

     

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded immediate halt to the ongoing collation of results of Saturday’s presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The main opposition party said collation of results must be stopped until data from the smart card reader accreditation at the polling units are made available to all the parties in the election.

    At a media briefing in Abuja Tuesday, the Deputy Director General (Admin) of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr Tanimu Turaki SAN, the party cited manipulations, rigging and over-voting in some states by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “The PDP predicates its demand on available evidence to the effect that data from the card readers are being reconfigured to suit the manipulations, rigging and over-voting already carried out during the election in some states by the All Progressives Congress (APC)”, Turaki said.

    Turaki added that the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus had already communicated the party’s position to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

    “We have evidence from the smart card reader accreditation data that what is being announced by INEC has been seriously tampered with and manipulated”, Turaki said.

    The main opposition party also demanded the immediate and outright cancellation of results of the presidential election in Borno, Yobe, Zamafara and Nasarawa States, as submitted by INEC’s presiding officers. The PDP called for the conduct of fresh elections in the affected states.

    Continuing, the PDP chieftain said, “In Yobe, the total number of votes submitted as cast was more than the number of accredited voters. Whereas the number of accredited voters was 601, 056, the total votes cast was 775, 449.

    “This is a clear case of over-voting which, by the provisions of the Electoral Act, renders the election null and void. In such instance, the law provides for another election on a day to be fixed by INEC.

    Read Also: PDP rejects results in Kano

    “In Zamfara state, no actual voting took place and there was no single result sheet in any polling unit in the entire state. There was an arrest in Shinkafi Local Government, where an APC member was caught thump-printing ballot papers inside his house.

    “Results from the presiding officer from Zamfara were concocted and allocated according to the wishes of the leadership of the APC and INEC.

    “The PDP therefore demands the outright deletion of the results from Zamfara from INEC records and a conduct of free, fair and credible presidential election in Zamfara state.

    “Also in Borno state, there was no election but a figure writing exercise and allocation of results according to the whims and caprices of the APC leaders. We also demand the outright deletion of the results from Borno from INEC records and a conduct of free, fair and credible presidential election in Borno state.

    “In Nasarawa, the PDP demands the immediate restoration of our over 157, 000 lawful and valid votes which were unlawfully and arbitrarily cancelled by INEC and the announcement of the actual results from the field.

    “Similarly, the PDP demands an immediate restoration of our over 79, 000 valid votes which were unlawfully cancelled by INEC in Kogi state and the announcement of the authentic results inclusive of the restored 79,000 votes

    “In the FCT, the PDP demands the restoration of 27,000 valid votes unlawfully and arbitrarily cancelled by INEC and a declaration of the authentic result, inclusive of our restored 27,000 votes.

    “In Plateau, the PDP demands the immediate restoration of our over 30,000 lawful and valid votes, which were unlawfully cancelled particularly in Jos North and the declaration of the genuine results as delivered at the polling units inclusive of our 30,000 restored votes”.

    The PDP called on Nigerians to disregard the results until INEC provides the data from the smart card reader accreditation at the polling units, conducts fresh election in Borno, Yobe and Zamfara states as well as restore its votes in Plateau, FCT, Kogi and Nasarawa states.

    “The PDP maintains that from the actual votes delivered at the polling units, which we all have, Nigerians clearly and unequivocally gave their mandate to Atiku Abubakar”, Turaki declared.

  • ‘Bindow reduced Atiku’s margin in Adamawa’

    Adamawa State Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow deliberately reduced the victory margin of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar on Saturday, his campaign council caucus has stated.

    The caucus said Atiku would have won Adamawa, his home state, with wider margin but for efforts of Bindow to facilitate the success of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress(APC).

    It said this is a fact that contradicts a falsehood being peddled by an individual to the effect that Bindow sold Buhari’s victory to Atiku.

    A statement in Yola Tuesday by the Secretary of the Caucus, Dr Umar Duhu, said: “Our attention has been drawn to the attack on the person of the Adamawa State Governor … by one Ambassador Aminu Iyawa on the just concluded Presidential election in the state.

    “In his spiteful misleading and mischievous postilation, Iyawa claimed Governor Bindow sold out the state for the PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to garner considerable votes at the polls and he further malignly pointed that Governor Bindow designed a plan to give Atiku an edge in the polls.

    “How can Iyawa even claim Governor Bindow has failed when he adequately cut down Atiku’s lead votes to 30, 000 in the state, Atiku’s own state.

    Read Also: I’ve no rift with my deputy, says Bindow

    “Does Iyawa not see what happened in Katsina? The big margin between President Buhari and Atiku? Why is Iyawa blaming a man who singularly ensured massive vote touch for President Buhari?

    “Therefore, we wish to categorically state that the analysis by Iyawa is only aimed at tarnishing the exalted image of His Excellency Governor Muhammad Umaru Jibrilla and this falsehood is mischievously orchestrated and fictitious.

    “It is a big surprise that such concocted story was circulated by someone who claims to love Adamawa State and the APC.

    “We therefore wish to stress that Governor Bindow is a core APC member, loyalist and an absolute believer in President Buhari and his ideals.

    “He is a political guide for all good citizens of Adamawa State and he is a gentleman politician per Excellency who will never indulge in any act of anti-party to the APC.

    “Governor Bindow has tremendous respect and regard for the President and the National Leadership of the APC and consequently, any plan or attempt to disrupt the resounding relationship existing between Mr. President, the Party Leadership and Governor Bindow will not only fail but, will definitely not see the light of  the day.”

  • Senators Omo-Agege, Manager re-elected in Delta

    Results for the Senate and House of Representatives in last Saturday’s election in Delta state finally made it in on Monday.

    After a rather slow and tiring process, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released some of the results in the Delta Central and South Senatorial Districts.

    In Delta Central, the incumbent senator, representing the district, who is also the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, emerged winner, having polled 111,100 votes.

    According to the Returning Officer of the contest, Professor Godfrey Ariavie, who announced the results out in Ughelli, Omo-Agege defeated his closest opponent and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Evelyn Oboro, who polled 99,422 votes.

    In Delta South Senatorial District, the incumbent Senator James Manager of the PDP, defeated his main opponent, former governor of Delta state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of the APC, to win his re-election to the Senate the fifth time.

    Read Also: Omo-Agege empowers 250 women

    According to the Returning Officer, Prof. Oladipupo Adesina of the University of Benin, who announced the results in Oleh, Senator Manager polled 258,812 votes to win Dr Uduaghan who garnered 125,776 votes.

    Also, the candidate of the APC for the Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency, Revd Ejiroghene Waive, was declared winner of the election, polling a total of 41,385.

    Returning Officer of the contest, Dr. Igbinoba Eghosa, said Waive thrashed his closest contenders; the candidates of the PDP, Hon Samuel Marierie, who polled 35,126 and the incumbent, Hon Solomon Awhinawhi,  who is the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and polled 11,098 votes.

    The Returning Officer for the Warri Federal Constituency election, Dr Samuel Osifo, has declared Chief Thomas Ereyitomi of the PDP winner of the seat, having polled a total of 152,874 votes to defeat the incumbent, Hon Daniel Reyeineiju of the SDP, who polled 25,032 votes and Mr Alex Eyengho of the APC, who polled 18,443 votes.