The Nation Newspaper

Category: Election 2019

  • Polls: Police deploy 4,000 personnel in Bayelsa

    The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State command, Aminu Saleh Thursday said over 4000 policemen will be providing security for the rescheduled elections on Saturday.

    Saleh, who spoke to the Nation, boasted that the police were fully ready for the elections and warned troublemakers to stay away from the process.

    He said the police in partnership with other security agencies played crucial roles in the distribution of electoral materials.

    On securing the waterways and creeks, Saleh said the command had enough marine equipment, gunboats and marine policemen to ensure hitch-free elections.

    He warned policemen to be professional and adhere strictly to the rules of engagements throughout the process.

    He said: “We are fully ready for the elections with deployment and everything. We have been involved in the escort of necessary materials. We are working closely with other security agencies to do that.

    Read Also: Police reiterate readiness for rescheduled polls

    “We will soon commence deployment to the polling units. Some of them had been deployed within the areas of their operation. We have over 4000 policemen for this exercise. We also have adequate marine equipment and personnel to secure the waterways.

    “We further have adequate gunboats. The policemen should discharge their duties by the rules. We have been trained on electoral law and they know what to do during the electoral process. We are adequately aware and informed.

    “We expect that no thugs should come near to snatch any ballot box. We are working very hard in partnership with other security agencies, parties and their candidates, in fact, everybody in Bayelsa to ensure peace”.

  • Just in: Katsina, Taraba, Kebbi, Zamfara lead in PVCs collection

    Katsina, Taraba, Kebbi and Zamfara states have the most number of collected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    The PVCs will be used for voting in the 2019 general elections.

    Katsina, according to INEC data, records 98 percent collection of PVCs followed closely by Taraba state with 97 percent.

    Kebbi has 95 percent while Kebbi and Zamfara boast of 94 percent collection rate.

    Also, Yobe recorded 92 percent collection.

    Details shortly…

  • Dickson orders monarchs to sign peace pacts with candidates

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has directed traditional rulers and chairmen of Community Development Committees (CDC) to hold peace meetings with political stakeholders and party candidates to ensure violence-free elections in the state.

    Dickson said the community leaders should sign peace pacts with the candidates and their parties to confine their activities within the outcome of the meetings.

    The governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, further called on the paramount rulers to be vigilant to ensure that strange faces were not harbored in their communities during the period of the election.

    Dickson stressed that the state would not allow the influx of strange faces brought in as political thugs to foment crisis during the election.

    He said: “Based on the outcome of the State Security Council meeting, all paramount rulers, CDC chairmen are directed to hold peace meetings with candidates and party leaders in their various communities, particularly those that normally have political violence. We don’t want violence in any community because of the elections in the state.

    “They should call the politicians in their areas, and candidates and then get binding undertakings from them.

    “I am directing them to sensitize communities to reject any strange or unknown face brought in as thugs by any candidate or politician to disturb the peace of the communities.

    Read Also: Jonathan’s kinsmen loyal to Dickson, PDP

    “The traditional rulers and CDC chairmen are directed to mobilize their communities to ensure that only those who are registered voters from their communities are harbored in their communities for purposes of this election; no unknown faces by any political party will be tolerated. We stand for peace, we must have a culture of voting peacefully.”

    Dickson also said that it was important for the people to recognize that election as a civilian operation requires the police and civil forces to play their assigned responsibility while the military operates at the outer corridor.

    He explained the military, who could be assigned the responsibility of escorting sensitive electoral materials because of the terrain should neither handle electoral materials nor intimidate voters.

    “Our people should know that by the laws of this country, the duty of the military is to be at the outer corridor.

    “Election is a civil operation, with the police and other civil forces playing their constitutional roles, while the military because of our terrain are given support services to escort materials.

    “They are not to handle any material, they are not to intimidate anybody”.

     

  • ‘We have confidence in INEC to conduct polls’

    Despite the barrage of allegations and mudsling on the nation’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), one of the newly registered political parties, African Action Congress (AAC) on Thursday said the party has a firm belief in the integrity and competence of the electoral body to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

    The assurance came on the heels of allegation and counter allegations from both the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the leading opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with both of them accusing the electoral commission to be working for the other.

    Speaking in Ibadan, the Oyo State Governorship candidate of AAC, Engineer Akinwale Laosun flayed the ruling and opposition parties as well as two other leading opposition parties saying the fears of what they had both done in the past is affecting their conscience and making them suspicious of one outsmarting the other.

    While expressing confidence that INEC will be fair to all the parties, Laosun noted that the top four parties in the country, including the ruling party are just a mere duplication of the leading and main opposition party.

    He noted that the membership of the parties comprises people who have traversed and moved from one of the parties to another since the current political dispensation and the level of poverty across the country is an indication of lack of visionary leadership for the country.

    Read Also: INEC and our suicidal political elite

    He urged Nigerians not to be weary or discouraged by what he described as unpalatable situations across the country but turn out in mass to exercise their voting right in electing a new set of “visionary, youthful and focused leaders for both the country in the person of Omoyele Sowore and himself at the state level.

    He was accompanied at the briefing by the Deputy State Party Chairman, Mr Ola Olaniyan, Director General, Akinwale Omololu Laosun (AOL) Campaign Team, Mr Olukayode Oluwaremi, candidates for the house of assembly elections and other members of the Campaign team.

    Charging the electorate, the AAC governorship candidate said the forthcoming election is about the future of the country which must be done with all sense of responsibility if the experience of people in the last 20 years is anything to go by.

    “AAC believes in INEC to carry out a credible election. Both APC and PDP know themselves and know each other’s secrets and that is why they are attacking INEC.

    “One thing we know is that if the people will turn out to vote in the coming elections, it will be very difficult for the election to be rigged. We have trust and confidence in INEC to conduct a free and fair election. If Nigeria is to move forward, this is the time to vote in new sets of credible, youthful ad focus leaders.

    “This is the time to make a transformational change that our country needs and I know that with AAC in power, the future is better secure.”

  • Polls: Buhari raises alarm over influx of foreign currency

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed astonishment at the huge amount of foreign currency flooding the country intended to influence the general elections beginning on Saturday.

    He spoke during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, issued on Thursday, accused some politicians of flouting money laundering regulations in their desperate bid to capture political power.

    President Buhari, however, commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for successfully tracking the money in “millions of United States dollars.”

    Read Also: ‘Why Buhari gave directive on ballot box snatching’

    “The EFCC success followed the presidential directive to investigative agencies to probe a number of high profile cases.”

    Reassuring the nation of his administration’s determination to wage a relentless war against money laundering and terrorist financing, the President again appealed to Nigerians, especially politicians to place the interest of the country above all others, as they troop out to cast their votes in the coming elections.

  • Oshiomhole, Obaseki meet APC leaders in Edo

    Less than 48 hours to the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections slated for February 23, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Thursday met with leaders of the APC from the 18 local government councils in the state.

    Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting at Government House in Benin City, Governor Obaseki said his administration has recorded huge successes within a short time owing to support from President Buhari.

    He said: “Edo is an APC state and there is no doubt about it. President Buhari led-administration has been supportive to us. He has granted all our requests. He has also assured to do more for us.”

    Read Also: Obaseki orders payment of February salary to Edo workers

    The governor expressed confidence that the state would deliver one million votes for the re-election of President Buhari.

    Oshiomhole assured that the party would not allow thuggery and ballot box snatching during conduct of the elections on Saturday, February 23, across the country.

    He noted: “We had a special meeting today. We met as APC family to reaffirm our commitment in ensuring we do what is expected of us as leaders to mobilise Edo people to vote en masse for President Muhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates in the election.

    “In Edo, we are used to one man, one vote. So, we will not allow thuggery and ballot box snatching,” he said.

    According to Oshiomhole, President Buhari has demonstrated that he is a trusted and honest leader, who deserves re-election to complete his developmental agenda across the country.

    He said: “We have resolved to give Buhari a second term and based on the track records of the APC governments in Edo State, I believe President Buhari will win.“

  • Umahi alleges plot to bomb Ebonyi lNEC offices

    Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi on Thursday alleged plans by some desperate politicians to import thugs to bomb some local government offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Umahi disclosed this during a live security situation briefing to the people of the state.

    He said: “I have been told that there are plans to bomb lNEC local government offices.”

    He said security agencies have been informed and have beefed up security in all INEC facilities in the state

    The governor frowned at the outbreak of violence, characterised by burning houses and killings at Mkpuma Akpatakpa in Abaja community of Izzi local government area, promising that perpetrators would be fished out and brought to book.

    He further condemned the attack on Ikwo local government area Vice Chairman, Mrs. Regina Iteshi who was attacked by hoodlums.

    According to the governor, the thugs inserted objects into her private part and cut the tendons of some of the people with her.

    He promised that the perpetrators must be punished.

    “My major concern is that we have free and a fair election on Saturday. There were few things we noticed on 15th February that were not in the character of Ebonyi people.

    “Inserting objects in the private parts of the vice chairman of Ikwo. Justice may be delayed but the law must take its full course.

    “Yesterday, I visited Izzi and saw the faces of defenseless father and mother whose son was killed and their houses burnt down.

    “All those who participated in the killing of the young man and burning of houses will never go scot-free.

    “Politicians are behind the killings and burning down of houses. My promise to all the victims, the young man that was killed and six others injured, all those behind it must be brought to book.

    “I appeal that there should be no reprisal attack. I have ordered that anybody that wants to kill our people should be shot at sight.

    “People must be allowed to exercise their right and vote for whom they want to vote for. I promised that if there is no reprisal attack, after the election, I will start the process of building the burnt houses.

    “Lives of Ebonyians are very important to us than positions and election. And anyone that takes the lives of others such will follow them to their fifth generation. Ebonyians must be alert and demobilize anybody that is parading thugs with police escort.

    The governor also had some warnings for INEC officers in the state.

    “Let me also warn INEC. I learnt that certain political party wants to cancel election. That they will go from polling booth to another killing people.

    “If you are INEC worker, discharge your duty according to the electoral law. I have asked the youths and Ebonyians to resist any INEC officials that wants to compromise. I learnt that collation officers are meeting, saying they nominated this and that.”

  • ‘Why Buhari gave directive on ballot box snatching’

    National Chairman of the Door-to-Door Campaign group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign, Bola Ilori, has explained why President Muhammadu Buhari ordered security operatives to prosecute ballot box snatchers during the Saturday’s election.

    He said the directive was to guard against manipulations during the polls, stressing the pronouncement would curtail killings and maiming during elections and prevent electoral stealing.

    Ilori, who spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, while leading canvassers to different parts of the state in furtherance of the door-to-door and market -to-market mobilisation strategy of the Field Operations of the Directorate of APC Presidential Campaign Council.

    The former Osun state commissioner for Regional Integration said the APC was prepared for a free and fair election on Saturday.

    According to him, the achievements of the Buhari- led administration cut across the various sectors of the nation’s economy, assuring he would be re-elected.

    Ilori said Buhari’s administration has achieved in the areas of rural development, social investment programmes and far reaching reforms in other areas of the economy.

    He appealed to voters to choose Buhari and other APC candidates from Saturday.

    He assured the people that if President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are reelected on Saturday, Nigerians would enjoy more of the numerous social investment programmes their administration has embarked upon since inception.

    Ilori said: “God used Moses to take the Israelites from Egypt as He first led them into the wilderness, not five star hotel.

    “Some people complained about hardships in the wilderness and made another god to lead them back to Egypt, thereby unwittingly turned a journey of 40 days to 40yrs.

    “Eventually Moses led them out of the wilderness and handed them over to a Joshua that led them to the Promise land.

    “It is clear that Nigeria has left PDP’s Egypt through Moses Buhari, but currently in a wilderness Moses is laying a solid foundation for a Joshua to get Nigerians to the promise land.

    “The Next Level is not to go back to Egypt but to move to the Promised land and we shall get there.

    He said the President was against ballot box snatching, stressing that order was to check against the perpetration of extra judicial killings during elections.

  • Low turnout at Buhari’s one million-man march

    A one million- man march for President Buhari organised on Thursday by the Buhari Support Organisation (BSO) in Niger state witnessed a low turnout.

    Organisers were clearly disappointed as crowd didn’t turn out as expected.

    The march started at the Trade fair complex in Sango, Minna at 10 am with less than 100 people.

    However, as the march continued to Government House and rounded off at the Buhari campaign office opposite the old state secretariat, some other people joined in the march.

    People from the 25 local government areas of Niger state were expected but there was no representation from over 20 local government areas.

    The Nation noted banners representing people from Bosso and Chachanga local government areas.

    While the target was meant for one million people, the crowd was not up to 2,000 as observed by our correspondent.

    Speaking to newsmen after the march, Chairman of the Buhari Support Organisation in Niger, Mallam Umar Shuiabu refused to comment on the low turnout but said they never induced anyone to join the march.

    He expressed satisfaction over the turnout and the number recorded at the march but refused to give the total head count of participants.

    “The march was organised to garner support for Buhari. We have never had a government that has fulfilled its campaign promises like the Buhari administration.

    “We did not induce anyone with money to come out to march. The people you saw during the march joined because of their love for the President. We do not rent crowd. People came here on their volition.”

    Shuaibu called on Niger people to vote for the President on Saturday, saying Buhari ‘s administration has been able to turn the nation into a prosperous economy.

  • Elections: FG closes borders tomorrow

    The Federal Government has announced the closure of all Nigerian land borders with effect from 12:00 noon on Friday, February 22 to 12:00 noon of Sunday, February 24, 2019.

    Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdrahman Dambazau who gave the order said the development is to restrict movements across the borders during the election days.

    Read Also: FG grants visa free waiver for accredited election observers

    According to a statement issued by the Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede and made available to The Nation: “Further to the Presidential Election taking place on the February, 23, 2019, the Honourable Minister of Interior has directed the closure of all Nigeria Land Borders with effect from 12:00 noon of Friday February 22 to 12:00 noon of Sunday February 24, 2019.

    “This is to restrict movements across the borders during the election days. The public is to take note and ensure compliance.”