The Nation Newspaper

Category: Election 2019

  • Buhari will accept polls outcome, says Osinbajo

    The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will accept the outcome a free and fair presidential election.

    He said this after casting his vote at polling unit 033 in Victoria Garden City (VGC), his country home in Lagos. “This administration will do everything it said. We are going to accept the outcome of a free, fair and credible poll.

    That is democracy. Let the voting process be peaceful. Cast your vote and encourage others to do the same. Let it remain as peaceful as it can. If the election is free and fair and everybody says it is free and fair, then we must accept the result,” he said.

    The Vice President, who said his vote is not different from the vote of every other Nigerian, said he and President Buhari are very confident of winning reelection.

    “We have gone round the nation and we have spoken to the nation about the need for us to continue on the path that we have set; the path of growth and development for the nation. We deserve a second term in order for us to complete all that we have started. We have also said that this country, in the next four years, by the grace of God and the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, will be a completely changed nation,” he said.

    Osinbajo, who also commended the turnout of voters and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the peaceful poll, said the turnout was impressive, expressing confidence in the elections.

  • Ago Palace violence: We’re waiting for PO’s report, says INEC

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos has said it is waiting for a report from the Presiding Officer where voting was disrupted in Ago Palace area in Lagos.

    Deputy Director of Publicity/Protocol, INEC Lagos Office, said the PO’s report will determine the next line of action.

    Asked what options are open to voters in the area, he said: “We received report of violence in Ago Palace. Security operatives are on top of the situation. We’re waiting for the PO’s report.”

  • El-Rufai votes after four hours on queue

    It took Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State four hours on the queue to  vote on Saturday at Polling Unit 24, Anguwan Sarki, Runfa Ward, Kaduna.

    But the governor said he was relieved to vote at all.

    “When I arrived at the polling unit, the card reader was malfunctioning, so until after two hours before it was fixed and voting commenced,” he told reporters.

    The governor expressed gratitude to the people of the state for their patience and coming out in large numbers to cast their vote at the rescheduled date.

    Read Also: El-Rufai clarifies his comments

    “The people here have been patient even when the card reader was faulty; they didn’t leave, they kept trooping in. This is very encouraging, I therefore, commended our people for their resilience and commitment to exercise their civic right.”

    El-Rufai urged INEC to extend the voting time since the exercise started late generally across the state.

    “I have made a case for that already; the time should be extended so that people will not be disenfranchised due to INEC’s logistical failings.”

  • A’Ibom Speaker commends INEC over peaceful conduct of polls

    …harps on improved technology

    The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr Onofiok Luke says the elections have so far been peaceful, saying the electoral process has improved, though it was slow.

    Speaking after casting his vote in Unit 5, Itreto ward, Nsit Ubium local government area, Luke said the election process has improved compared to the last election, except for a little hitch with the card reader.

    He commended the early turn out of voters, and the INEC officials for starting early, adding that the peace experienced during the elections was enough victory for the people.

    “When I came to vote and from the report I have gotten around this community, it has been peaceful. I give glory to God Almighty. For me, the most important thing is not about my personal victory as a candidate in this election. The most important thing is victory for Nigeria, victory for peace in Akwa Ibom state.

    “The only challenge we had was that the card reader and the process was slow which we had asked party and agents to raise concern. The voting process was slow because we did not have enough stamp pads, stamping of the ballot paper and sharing to the electorates to thumb print.

    “In all I want to say kudos to Nigeria, kudos to the Independent National Electoral Commission, kudos to the security agencies with the monitoring and distribution of materials from state to ward, to respective units. We give God the glory for the peace enjoyed so far,” he said.

    On his part, the Commissioner for Works, Akwa Ibom State, Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen has also applauded INEC for ensuring early arival of materials at polling units across Onna Local Government Area.

    He reported that the setback caused by the card reader was promptly addressed and the card reader replaced.

  • Ballot box snatching, insufficient materials mar election in Imo

    …Okorocha, Nwosu laud voters’ turnout

     

    The Presidential and National Assembly elections in Imo State were marred by late arrival and insufficient voting materials, as well as absence of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Officials.

    Though the turnout of voters was impressive, they were reported cases of ballot box snatching, shooting, among other repressive actions.

    At Egbenu Agbala booth 1 and 2 in Owerri North, there were no ballot papers for the Presidential election and result sheets.

    In some places, aggrieved voters alleged that INEC officials in collusion with some politicians made away with the sensitive materials.

    There were also reported cases of ballot box snatching by hoodlums dressed in Military and Police uniforms in Aboh Mbaise, Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta, Oru East, Isialla Mbano and Owerri North Council Area.

    A former governor of the state, and governorship candidate of the Accord party, Ikedi Ohakim, who could not vote as a result of non-arrival of voting materials in his Osu Owerre Ward 1 in Isialla Mbano Council Area, until 3pm, expressed dissatisfaction over the conduct of the election.

    He said that the turnout of voters showed that the people were prepared to participate in the election but were tactically disenfranchised.

    Addressing journalists, the former governor, stated that, “here in Osu Owerre Ward 1, we have not seen INEC officials by 1pm and voting will stop by 2pm. I am afraid that this will disenfranchise the people. It is early to say that it is an act of sabotage but I am really disappointed that INEC could not get it right after all the preparations”.

    Read Also: Imo AA insists on voting Buhari

    Also expressing dismay over the late commencement of voting, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ifeanyi Araraume, tasked the electoral umpire to put measure to ensure an improved performance during the next election.

    He said, “In Osu Owerre Ward 2, voting materials got here by 1.30pm and the card readers were not functioning until the Electoral Officer came and gave them the code to operate it. INEC should do everything possible to improve in the next election”.

    Meanwhile, the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha has expressed satisfaction over the turnout of voters and the conduct of the election.

    The governor who addressed journalists shortly after casting his vote at ward 2 Ogboko in Ideato South Council Area alongside his wife, Nkechi Okorocha, confirmed that the postponement did not affect the turnout of voters.

    Okorocha who arrived his polling Unit at about 11:04 expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari will win the Presidential election with a wide margin.

    He said, “I am here with my wife at ward 2 Ogboko, for now I will say that everything is going on well. There is security everywhere.

    “I also had the rumour of ballot box snatching in Osemoto, among other areas. But given the Presidential Order many people are afraid. If not by now you will see a lot of people carrying ballot boxes.

    “However, surprisingly there is no voter apathy our people have realized that it is for the future of this country.

    “I have full confidence that Buhari will win and I will also win by senatorial election with God on our side”.

    Also commending the voters for the massive turnout, the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Uche Nwosu, urged INEC to improve in the subsequent election.

    Nwosu noted that insufficient voting materials posed serious challenge to the electorate.

  • APC sure of victory, says Abdulrazaq

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Saturday said the party is confident of winning all the elections in the state as “voters have fully brought into our message”.

    AbdulRazaq told reporters in Ilorin at his Idi Igba family house all the party’s candidates would win by a landslide because the people of Kwara “are totally fed up with the current status quo.”

    “So far so good,” he began.

    “The turnout has been good and we definitely are sure of victory,” he said minutes before he cast his ballot at the Open Space polling unit 004 of Adewole Ward.

    AbdulRazaq commended the security agencies and the electoral body for the jobs done so far, adding however that “it is too early to give full comments on the conduct of the elections”.

    He expressed concerns about reports of incomplete or mixed up ballot papers in parts of Ilorin metropolis, calling on the electoral body to quickly address the concerns.

    Abdulrazaq enjoined all Kwarans to be calm as their wish of a new Kwara would soon become a reality.

    “We call on our people to be patient and orderly. Once you get to the polling units before 2pm, you will be allowed to cast your vote. We urge our people to remain calm,” he said.

    He explained that the Otoge revolution has swept across the state and “all people must do is to be cool headed and upright to the end.

    “We are on a mission to rebuild from the scratch and victory is assured by God’s grace.”

  • Buhari’s Chief of Staff commends INEC

    The Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, on Saturday commended the staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the professionalism exhibited in the conduct of the election process at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

    Speaking with State House Correspondents after voting, Kyari also expressed satisfaction at the large turnout of voters.

    He said that the conduct of voters during accreditation and voting which commenced around 9:20 am at both Villa Polling units of 021 and 022, was impressive.

    Former Senator Khairat Abdulrazaq-Gwadabe, also commended voters for their patience during the process.

    According to her, she brought to the attention of the INEC officials the need to educate the illiterate voters on how to differentiate between the colours of the card for presidential which had red features, black for senatorial and green for the House of Representatives, in order to avoid any mix-up.

    Read also: Borno voters defy bomb scare

    She also expressed dismay that voters arrived before the INEC officials and that they took a longer time than necessary to set up.

    Senator Khairat Abdulrazaq-Gwadabe encouraged those with PVCs that were yet to come out to vote, to do so as the process was safe and peaceful.

    Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) attended to the enthusiastic voters who queued at six different points for the exercise as directed by the officials.

    The son of the President, Yusuf Buhari also participated in the voting process.

  • Borno voters defy bomb scare

    Despite the early morning bomb scares and sporadic gunfire across Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, voters came out to exercise their civic obligation.

    There was also large turnout of voters at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Borno State where many inmates voted.

    Though one of the military missiles was misfired into the Teachers’ Village IDP camp, the development however did not deter from coming out to vote for their candidates.

    Borno State Gov. Kashim Shettima expressed happiness over the massive turnout of voters despite the early morning security development.

    He commended the people for their resilience and commitment to entrenching democracy in the country by coming out en masse to vote for their candidates.

    The governor, who voted at Lawan Bukar ward, called on the people to continue to be law-abiding.

    Speaking with journalists after casting his votes, the governor said: “I am happy that the people of Borno defied the threats and came out to exercise their civic responsibility.”

    Security sources informed the planned attack was massive as the insurgents were sighted in two entry points into the capital city with heavy equipment.

    Read Also: Air Force destroys Boko Haram Camp in Borno

    “Based on the intel, the army had swiftly launched an offensive attack while the Air force supported with air patrol hovering over the capital city.

    “Two live rocket propelled bombs misfired by the military in Defense of the city landed in the Teachers village camp, fortunately no one was hurt,” the source informed.

     

  • Losers should bow out gracefully – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised would-be losers in the ongoing Presidential and National Assembly elections to concede defeats.

    Obasanjo who voted at ward 11, polling unit 22, Abeokuta around 11: 04am, said there would definitely be winners and losers.

    But he urged contestants to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship.

    According to him: “Winners to show spirit of magnanimity while losers should also bow out gracefully.”

    On his assessment of the exercise, he said: “I believe in my own polling station, there was a small delay, the material arrived late for about two hours which can be accommodated, other than that, the process went smoothly.

    Read also: PDP ready to accept results in good faith -Tambuwal

    “I went through the card reader with my PVC and my photograph appeared then we had a bit of problem sorting out my thumb print and then when they were about to sort it out, they made me go through the process of voting, they gave the ballot paper for the Presidential, Senatorial and the House of Representatives.

    “It was very orderly even though there are many people waiting, waiting either to cast their votes or waiting to welcome me because now I vote in my own compound where I was born.”

    He added: “In any competition there will always the winners and losers. What anybody in any competition must be prepared for as a good sportsman is to have the mind that says if I win, I show magnanimity, if I lose, I will also bow out graciously.

    “That is what any competition is all about. You can’t say if you are going into any competition, you must win at all cost then it is no longer a competition.”

  • PDP ready to accept results in good faith -Tambuwal

    Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is ready to accept the outcome of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly results.

    Tambuwal spoke at his Waziri ward primary school polling unit in Tambuwal town after voting.

    He expressed satisfaction with the entire arrangement in view of the turnout of voters which impressed him.

    Read also: Voters fume as card readers malfunction at AOCOED

    “It is an indication of readiness that Nigerians are always willing to exercise their franchise in choosing who leads them. We are hoping to have a good election,” he stated.

    Tambuwal, who is seeking re-election, said: “I am also satisfied with the security arrangement as there has not been any report of breach of security so far.”