The Nation Newspaper

Category: Election 2019

  • Breaking: INEC extends voting hours

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will extend voting hours in areas where polling failed to open by 8am, it be confirmed.

    The National Commissioner in Charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye, said the commission had anticipated that there might be some hiccups.

    Okoye however assured Nigerians that the commission is on top of the situation, urging the public not to panic.

    Speaking on the extension of voting hour, Okoye noted that in any of the states where polls open at 9 o’clock, there will be an extension of one hour.

    Read Also: Pitfalls INEC must avoid today

    The extension time, he said, is predicated on the hours of delay experienced.

    On this, he said INEC is in touch with the Resident Electoral Commissioners

    Speaking on the identified hiccups, Okoye said most of the challenges are security- related and delay on the part of transporters.

    In the issue of security, he noted that INEC boss was already in touch with security agencies to address the situation.

    On the general outlook, he said polling in some states opened 100 percent at the stipulated time while some states recorded 90%

     

  • Obaseki votes, hails peaceful polls

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has voted at about 10:30am.

    He arrived the polling unit at 9:55am and waited on the queue.

    Many voters rushed to shake hands with him.

    Speaking to newsmen after voting, Governor Obaseki commended INEC and security for ensuring a hitch free exercise in the state.

    Obaseki said he worked hard to ensure voters were sensitized to see the need to come out en mass to cast their votes.

    “This is my voting unit and it is quite orderly for the past 20 minutes or so that I have been here, it has been quite orderly.

    “I am quite impressed with the presence of the security persons at the polling unit. As I was just diving in here, I saw a lot of security personnel here.

    “It was anticipated but our people at various levels worked very hard to sensitize the people to make them see the need to come out to vote. I think whatever we suffered from the postponement, it is made up of the publicity given.

    “My message is that everybody with their PVC should come out early enough so that we can complete this process early by 2pm”, he said.

    The governor said the government has made adequate security for the elections adding that he is optimistic of a peaceful elections at the end of the exercise.

    “So I am quite optimistic that the process will be peaceful”, he said.

  • Soldiers arrest 20 suspected electoral offenders

    No fewer than 20 men and women have been arrested by soldiers on LASU-Iyana Iba road for wandering.
    According to the soldiers, they were wandering from one place to another without PVCs.
    Two of them were caught with cutlasses.
    One of those arrested said he was having headache and wanted to get paracetamol from a friend living two streets away from his.
    Yusuf Olajide, an Okada rider said, he was on his way to refund the money he borrowed to repair his motorcycle when he was caught by the soldiers.
    Samuel Olatunji said he lives in a nearby street and he was going to meet a friend at the other street when he was arrested.
    The two persons caught with cutlasses said that they were coming from a friend`s farm where they went to assist him to clear the bushes.
    The soldiers, however, said they were lying.
    “What they told us before we arrest them were different from what they are saying now,” one of the soldiers.
    The two admitted lying, claiming that they lied due to their fear of the soldiers.

  • Polls: Ballot Paper confusing – Sani Bello

    Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has said that the ballot papers were a bit confusing as a result of the number of political parties on the ballot.

    Just as he said that uninformed voters may be confused in selecting the party of their choice.

    Speaking after casting his vote, Bello advised the people to take their time and be patient to identify the party of their choice.

    “One thing I noticed while casting my vote is that the ballot paper is a bit confusing with so many parties on the ballot papers. So if you are not careful you may vote the wrong party of your choice.

    “So my advice is for the electorate to take their time, do not rush, be patient, go through the ballot paper carefully and identify the party of their choice”.

    The Governor who voted alongside his wife, Dr. Amina Sani-Bello expressed satisfaction on the large turnout of voters commending the electorates for their level of maturity, organization and calmness displayed at the polling center.

  • Explosion: We fired to scare Boko Haram – Army

    The Army explained that the multiple sound of controlled-gun fire on Saturday morning heard in the outskirts of Maiduguri, was for “security calculations”.

    The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa said in a statement that the gun fire was not targeted at the public.

    Musa denied reports  that Boko Haram attacked Maiduguri or neighbouring  communities.

    “As of now Borno, especially Maiduguri township is calm and peaceful. People have already started voting in many locations across the state,” he said.

    He urged the people to turn out en mass to vote for the candidates of their choice.

    Musa also said there was a futile attack on a security outpost in Geidam general area in Yobe.

    He said that no casualty was recorded.

    The situation is calm and peaceful. People have largely turned out to cast their vote without any hindrance.”

    NAN

  • Saraki impressed with voters turnout

    Senate President Bukola Saraki on Saturday lauded the massive turnout of voters in Kwara state for the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

    Saraki spoke with reporters shortly after he cast his vote at Ode Opobiyi Polling Unit (005/006), in Ajikobi ward of Ilorin West local government.

    He hailed the peaceful atmosphere witnessed in the exercise and urged residents to maintain such postures.

    Accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Toyin Saraki; mother, Mrs. Florence Saraki and eldest son, Seni, the Senate president cast his vote at 10.20am.

    Read Also: Election: Don’t be deterred, Saraki tells Nigerians

    Senator Saraki urged the electorate to remain patient to enable them cast their vote within the stipulated time frame.

    He decried the late arrival of voting materials to some polling units within Ilorin metropolis.

    He called on the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to redress such anomalies in subsequent elections.

    Director General of Kwara PDP Mandate 2019 Campaign, Prof Abubakar Suleiman had also expressed concerns over the late arrival of materials as well as the reported malfunctioning of card readers in some parts of the metropolis.

  • Ganduje to would-be losers: accept defeat

    Kano state governor Dr Abdullahi Ganduje has appealed to whoever loses at the ongoing Presidential and National Assembly Elections to accept defeat in good faith.

    He spoke shortly after casting his vote along with his wife Hajiya Hafsat at the Ganduje Cikin Gari unit PO 008 of  Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano.

    The governor, who arrived the polling station at about 10 am joined the queue, was verified and voted at about 10:30 am.

    Addressing newsmen, the governor expressed satisfactions with conduct of election that verification and casting of votes was smooth without hitches.

    Ganduje however called on losers to accept defeat adding that politics is not a do- or- die affair.

    Read Also: Kano poll: Why Ganduje will win

    According to him: “The striking thing is that the system adopted by INEC this time for people to instantly be accredited and vote immediately.

    “Such move is quiet commendable because it doesn’t allow people to be crowded in one place to cause violence. “As soon as you vote you move away making the place peaceful.”

    He expressed delighted he was properly verified by the card reader and as such this is an indication that the conduct of election will be hitch free.

    He hailed INEC for providing the necessary electoral materials required for the elections on time to allow for quick and smooth voting.

    Our reporter in Ganduje town observed that the turnout of voters was massive with security efficient.

    The Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II voted at about 9:45am with a call on the electorate to come out en-mass and cast their votes.

    He also commended INEC for a job well done.

  • Ambode: polls peaceful, best so far in Nigeria

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode cast his vote at exactly 10.01 on Saturday at Ward A5, Polling Unit 033 at Ogunmodede Junior College in Papa Epe.

    Ambode who arrived the polling center at 9.48am was the first to be accredited and to vote in the polling unit.

    Although INEC officials did not arrive with voting materials until 9.05 am accreditation and voting however commenced at about 9.48am

    The turnout at the polling center which has two voting units was impressive and the atmosphere was peaceful.

    The few security personnel at the polling center did not carry any arms and were very civil, there was however no military presence at the center.

    Read Also: Ambode gives PLWDs N10m, devices

    Speaking with newsmen after casting his vote, the governor said the election is going to be very peaceful and will be the best ever in the country.

    Ambode said, “I came to perform my civic right and I have voted successfully in my polling unit. And from the records we have across the state, I can observe that the election is going on peacefully across the state.

    “I am delighted that Lagosians have been very cooperative. We’ve had a peaceful night and ever since morning also, everywhere has been very peaceful.

    “We want to commend INEC, they have been up to the task and almost everywhere, election materials are in place. Places where materials have not gotten to, the materials are already on its way.

    “This election is going to be very peaceful; it will be the best ever in the country and I pray it’s very successful,” Ambode said.

  • Thugs in Army uniform snatch ballot box in Imo

    Armed men dressed in millitary and Police uniforms have allegedly snatched sensitive election materials in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area.

    An eyewitness said that the materials were kept at the Central school Mbutu in Aboh Mbaise where it will be deployed to  Mbutu, Umuhu, Ahiato and Enyiogugu Polling Units.

    Read Also: Army Chief: ballot box snatchers’ll be dealt with

    Meanwhile voting has commenced at the Governor Rochas Okorocha’s Ogboko polling booth 2 in Ideato South Council Area.

    There was massive turnout of voters, especially women and youths who queued to be accredited to vote.

    Meanwhile the governor, whose house is less than one kilometre from the polling Unit was yet to come to vote as at the time of filling this report

  • Senator Remi Tinubu overwhelmed by high turnout

    The senator representing Lagos Central, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu has expressed satisfaction with the large turn or of voters at her polling unit.

    Tinubu, who voted at Ward 9, Unit 34, Ikoyi arrived at the polling booth at 8.35 am while the INEC officials and voting materials berthed at 9.10 am.

    Read Also: Senator Tinubu opens library

    The senator she was not worried by the  late arrival of INEC officials because in 2015 voting didn’t start here until 12 noon.  She said after casting her vote at 10. 10 am that there was an improvement on the part of the electoral body.

    She thanked the voters for staying on the queue for  long time in anticipation of the arrival of INEC officials.