The Nation Newspaper

Category: Election 2019

  • Voters fume as card readers malfunction at AOCOED

    Four card readers allocated to Polling Unit 015 inside Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Ijanikin, along Lagos-Badagry Express Way, failed on Saturday.

    Officials blamed the problem on poor network.

    But voters argue that network could not possibly select the card readers it would identify.

    Presiding officer, a Youth Corps member, who gave her name as Vivian Anselem, noted that out of the 10 card readers, only six are functioning well.

    The situation has slowed down voting exercise which did not start until few minutes to 9am.

    Voters also complained that while the card readers sometimes read the cards, they could not recognise finger prints.

    Anselem said this was not a problem as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had approved identifying the card reader alone was enough for people to vote.

    Read Also: ‘We need more workers at AOCOED’

    Those whose cards and finger prints could not be read are aggrieved that they would be disenfranchised if the situation was not remedied.

    They said as long as other documents were showing their names, they should be allowed to vote.

    The card readers appeared to be reading only newly issued cards while most of the old PVCs were not identified by the card readers.

    Anselem, who has been under severe pressure, has called the INEC office, saying her superiors were said to be on their way.

     

  • Fight breaks out at Senator Ita Enang’s unit

    There was a fight at the polling unit of Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly (Senate) Senator Ita Enang.

     Enang’s ward 2, unit 2 polling unit at Ibiono Ibom, Akwa Ibom State is also where Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Environment  comes from.

    The senator alleged that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs attacked him and vandalised his car.

    Head of the unit, Joseph Joshua, said voting started at 9,30am.

    As at the time our correspondent got there, there were no more voters on the queue.

    Joshua said 95 persons had been accredited and had voted before then.

  • Umahi commends INEC for smooth conduct of elections in Ebonyi

    Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the successful conduct of the election in the state.

    Umahi stated this after voting at Onuwafor polling unit in Umunaga ward, Uburu in Ohaozara local government area.

    He said that the election was excellent and beautiful and therefore commended the INEC boss, Mahmood Yakubu for the smooth process.

    The governor who voted by 10:20am noted that the turnout of voters was an indication that Nigerians were beginning to know their rights.

    He said that with the disposition of the electoral body, politicians should be held responsible if any of the processes failed and not the INEC.

    Umahi said: “The process is excellent, very beautiful. INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu should be commended. If any process fails, the fault is from the politicians and not part of the INEC. INEC has done very well. The problem of the card readers are from the operators. The card readers are functioning well but the operators are the problems. They need to be educated on the use of the card readers”.

    Read Also: Ebonyi traditional rulers endorse Buhari, Umahi

    “There is high turnout. It is a statement from the people that leaders should stop taking them for granted. Everybody is interested now. So if you are a leader and you are voted into office, your eyes must be on the people because the level of turnout is an indication that Nigerians are beginning to know their right”.

    The governor said there were infiltration of people in some places because people who were not on ground thought they can use thugs and security agencies to intimidate the people.

    Umahi however condemned the killings in Ikwo local government area on Friday night where two people died, stressing that the perpetrators of the dastardly act must be face the full wrath of the law.

    “The incident in Ikwo is saddening. Ikwo is going to be isolated at the end of the day. All the killings and evils against the people of Ikwo must be attended to. It’s not election or no election, anyone that takes life must be called to order, the governor vowed.”

     

  • Etiebet decries violence at Oruk Anam

    Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in Akwa Ibom state, Chief Don Etiebet, has decried widespread violence in most of the wards in his local government area of Oruk Anam.

    Etiebet said thugs allegedly brought into his local government area from neighboring states by chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had invaded polling units earlier today and disrupted accreditation and voting exercises.

    He said two persons were injured during the pandemonium and fingered a serving lawmaker for sponsoring thugs to cause mayhem.

    Read also: 2019: Large turn out of supporters at Akpabio’s unit

    The APC chieftain, who spoke with our correspondent at Ward 1, Ikot Ekpuk in Oruk Anam local government area, said he put a call to the police authorities who sent in their men to restore law and order.

    He, however, said normal voting continued thereafter which enabled him and other voters to cast their vote.

    Etiebet assured that President Buhari will get eighty percent of votes in Akwa Ibom as the state has benefited tremendously from the APC led federal government in terms of federal appointments.

  • 2019: Large turn out of supporters at Akpabio’s unit

    A large crowd of supporters are currently waiting for the counting of the ballot at Senator Godswill Akpabio’s polling unit at Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government of Akwa Ibom State.

    The senator is also anxiously waiting with a retinue of aides and security details.

    We just left his country home. It is like a complete community of its own, with a church, a basketball court, swimming pool, detachment of houses and several halls for meetings.

    He appears to be in control of his senatorial district, the Ikot Ekpene zone.

     

  • Buhari’ll be President till 2023, says Ogboru

    The Delta State gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, Saturday expressed confidence about the victory of the All Progressive Congress Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of the party in the area.

    Speaking with newsmen shortly after casting his ballot at Abraka Ward 1, unit 8, said “President Muhammadu Buhari has done so well and deserved another term in office to complete his good work.

    Speaking on the conduct of the election, he said, “The environment is quite peaceful, and I just voted, though there were rumours of some technical issues about the machines. I have no iota of doubt about the victory of APC candidates.

    “l know we shall win, and I hope that the elections will be peaceful in other places, I heard that people are still trying to snatch ballot boxes in some places, but I don’t see the need for that when the election is peaceful.”

    Ogboru advice all eligible voters to vote for all APC candidates to maintain peace, saying that the future is bright for all APC candidates and that they are not expecting anything short of victory for President Buhari, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege and house of Representative candidates.”

  • Adebule to voters: INEC will deliver

    The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Idiat Adebule, has urged Nigerians to have strong faith in INEC to ensure a credible, free and fair election.

    She believed INEC will deliver credible poll after the last week hiccup.

    Adebule spoke at Unit 029 Devince, Iba, Lagos after casting her vote.

    She enjoined the electorate to report any shortcoming of the ad hoc workers to INEC supervisors, instead of taking laws into their hands.

    She bemoaned the lateness of some INEC official to the polling unit.

    “The INEC officials are a bit late but all the same, we are able to cast our votes successfully and by the end of today, we believe all voters in Nigeria will be able to cast their votes,” she said.

    Read Also: Breaking: INEC extends voting hours

    She urged all the INEC officials to fasten the procedure to ensure all eligible voters to cast their votes.

    “I believe if the INEC officials hasten up, none of the electorate will be disenfranchised,” she said.

    According to her, the turnout was impressive.

    “I am impressed with turn out, even on my way to the polling unit, i saw lot of electorate trooping out to their units,” she said.

  • Agbaje faults INEC on card reader

    … says Atiku will win

     

    Lagos State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Jimi Agbaje who voted at his unit 004, Ward A, Hindra Road, Liverpool, GRA, Apapa has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not lived up to expectation on its card reader.

    He said the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar will win the election.

    The politician who arrived his polling unit at 11 am; said INEC was yet to get it right, noting that the card reader could not recognise his finger print, that of his wife Oluyemisi and two other people ahead of him during accreditation.

    He added that INEC had no excuse on why it cannot present voters with seamless election, noting that the commission prepared for the exercise in the last four years.

    “We have one or two issues at some polling units. In ward 009, Eti Osa council, where 500 ballot papers are being expected only 400 ballot papers were delivered.

    “In my polling unit, I am concerned that the card readers are not working. This further supports the fact that elections are being tainted. It means my voting now depends on what the INEC official wants, whether to allow me to vote or not.

    “Again, there is no provision for the agents to know whether the man who the card reader could not identity is the actual person that was now allowed to vote by the INEC officials having failed card reader’s scrutiny.”

    Agbaje said he was sure of victory, noting his party would win the election and its chances brighter than it was before the postponement last week.

    “The security situation is better, the police and other agents deployed for the election are doing great job. I am more confident than before that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will win the election.

    Read Also: Jimi Agbaje and his politics

    “There are more votes on our side, there are more number on our side. Everybody should stay behind after casting vote because the law allows it.

    “I must say INEC cannot justify the postponement because it had four years to prepare for the election. Logistic reasons given by INEC are not tenable. It is never good to postponement.”

    Speaking, President of Women Arise, Dr. Joe Odumakin, who led an observer group, said the election was going on smoothly, but faulted INEC on faulty card readers.

    She added that voters turned out in good number for the election. She commended security personnel for living up to expectation.

    “Some of the areas we visited, we observed the malfunctioning of card readers. The security situation is alright given the agencies are on top on the game in Lagos and other areas.

    “We were worried that voters apathy would be high due to the postponement, but lots of people turned out for the election to performed their civic responsibility.”

    The Nation noted that the aged who came to vote, were allowed to vote as they came to the venue. Some of them over 70 years were enthusiastic that the votes will reflect the wishes of the people.

  • Sanwo-Olu sure of APC victory

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, expressed optimism that his party would win Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly polls.

    Sanwo-Olu praised INEC’s conduct of the polls, describing it as transparent but in need of better timing.

    He spoke minutes after he and his wife Ibijoke cast their votes at about 11:50am at his Lateef Jakande Avenue/Femi Okunnu, Ikoyi, polling unit.

    At the same polling unit, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Habib Abiru, also cast his vote.

    Sanwo-Olu said: “I think the process is transparent, but I think we can still do a bit better with timing. The observation we have here is that we have two booths in which you can vote, and we have only one part, so, and it takes a while for them to search that long paper before they get your name. But outside of the time, which we understand they need to do a thorough job, I think every other thing has been very okay.”

    He added: “From what I have seen, and from the little comments I have heard around, it’s 12 O’clock now, I believe it’s been satisfactory, from the few people I’ve had interactions with, from the few observers that have come around our polling booth here, I think it’s been pretty commendable.”

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu celebrates valentine with Lagosians

    Sanwo-Olu said he was impressed with the turnout and patience of the electorate at his ward.

    Responding to a question on his party’s chances, he added:” Since I’m an APC member, it makes commendable sense and I am looking forward to my party to win at the end of the day.

    Sanwo-Olu, whose thumbprint was recognised by the smart card reader after some slight delay, explained why.

    He said:  My wife’s finger got approved the first time, maybe my fingers are a bit pressured up, I don’t know, but at least I got to thumb print and I have since voted.”

    He also explained that he transferred his polling booth from his ancestral home on Lagos Island East Constituency to Eti-Osa Federal Constituency, two years ago, following his change of residence.

    Commenting on the process, Justice Abiru said, “One must commend INEC for what they’ve done seriously.

    “It’s not easy; they have over 120,000 polling units. One must commend the officials here.

    “I just wish that the results will reflect the actual desire of the people.”

  • Atiku promises to accept poll result if…

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar promised on Saturday to accept results of the presidential elections provided the polls are credible.

    He spoke after voting in his Ajiya ward polling unit in Jimeta, Yola.

    Atiku said as a democrat, he has no problem with accepting poll results.

    “I am a true democrat unlike others. So far so good,” he said.

    Read Also: Atiku, wife vote in Yola

    Atiku, who had a brief chat with reporters after casting his vote at the Unit 012 in Ajiya Ward near one of his houses at Old GRA, Jimeta, reiterated that although he was sure he would win, he would accept defeat if the conduct of the poll turned out to be transparently free and fair.

    He expressed satisfaction with the turnout of voters to exercise their right during the polls hoped all those election officials would do their jobs in all honesty.

    “I am impressed with the turnout of the voters. I hope the electoral officers would be able to cope with the crowd,” Atiku said.

    Alhaji Auwal Tukur, a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also said he was satisfied with the turnout of the electorate to vote.

    He said last Saturday’s postponement appears not to have had impact on voter turnout this time.

    “I am certain with all that I have seen so far that everything will be well. Where challenges are noticed I am sure it would be resolved,” he said.