The Nation Newspaper

Category: Election 2019

  • Breaking: PDP rejects postponement of election

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has said that shoddy arrangement for this election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is a deliberate predetermined agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari to cling on to power even when it’s obvious to him that Nigerians want him out.

    He was reacting to the postponement of the election by INEC.

    Prince Secondus said that the postponement which is part of a grand design by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to thwart the will of Nigerians at all cost, clearly exposes INEC as a failure and calls on the Chairman of the Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu to resign immediately.

    The PDP leader warns that the party will not accept anything short of a well organized electoral process devoid of manipulation, harassment and intimidation of voters and the opposition particularly members of the PDP.

    “Having failed in all their nefarious options to enable them cling on to power, the APC and the INEC came up with the idea of shifting election an action that is dangerous to our democracy and unacceptable”, he said.

    The National Chairman said that the APC in connivance with the INEC have been trying all options including but not limited to burning down INEC offices in some states and destroying of electoral materials to create artificial problems upon which to stand for their dubious act.

    According to a statement from the National Chairman’s media office signed by Ike Abonyi, Prince Secondus said that the party is privy to all the pressures from the APC and the federal government to arm-twist the INEC, to dance to their new strategy after their earlier ones failed.

    “With several of their rigging options failing, they have to force INEC to agree to a shift in the election or a staggered election with flimsy excuses pre-manufactured for the purpose.

    “For the avoidance of doubt the PDP sees this action as wicked and we are also aware of other dubious designs like the deployment of hooded security operatives who would be ruthless on the people ostensibly to scare them away.

    He said that by the action of the President has further demonstrated his insensitivity costing the huge cost after Nigerians including those who came home from abroad have all mobilized to their various constituencies.

    The National Chairman recalls that the PDP had earlier alerted Nigerians that the APC was coming up with lined up rigging strategies including burning down of INEC offices and engineering crisis in PDP stronghold areas to scare away the people.

    Prince Secondus said that the wicked killing of over 60 persons mostly women and children in Southern Kaduna on the eve of the election is a copious ploy by the APC to frighten the people away from voting knowing too well that they were not going to record any vote from the area.

    “Recall that the Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir el-rufai had earlier threatened international election observers of going to their country in body bags and with the fatal violence in the state on the eve of  election, it’s clear what the motives are, to frighten the observers from the state so that he can carry out his nefarious acts.

    The National Chairman also drew the attention of all lovers of democracy to the statement of President Buhari on the international media that nobody can unseat him from office as an indication of what he wants to do.

    Prince Secondus also regretted that President Buhari who made a promise at the signing of peace accord that the election will be conducted in a fair and transparent atmosphere  has gone ahead in breach of the peace agreements to send soldiers and other security agencies to arrest, harass and intimidate opponents in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Kano, Kaduna states.

  • Breaking: INEC postpones today’s election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections slated for Saturday 16th February to 23rd February 2019.

    The commission furthermore postponed the governorship election slated for 2nd March 2019, to 9th March, 2019

    INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, blaming the postponement on logistics announced that a stakeholder meeting will hold at 2pm in Abuja, on Saturday.

    Details shortly…

  • Breaking: INEC in crucial meeting over 2019 election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu is currently in a crucial meeting with stakeholders, including international and local observers over tomorrow’s Presidential and National Assembly election.

    INEC is considering postponing the election due to some logistics challenges being faced by the commission in many states.

    Details shortly…

  • Election: FRSC sets up Situation Room

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has set up a Situation Room for Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Public Education Officer of the corps, Mr Bisi Kazeem, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

    “In lieu of the need to ensure a smooth and safe motoring environment, during the 2019 general elections, the Federal Road Safety Corps will be operating a 24-hour daily situation room.

    “This is for updates and information from the public on safety and traffic-related issues including clearing of obstructions, recovery and prompt rescue services and enforcing traffic restrictions.

    Read also: Update: Presidential polls materials arrive Oyo state

    “The public is by this medium, admonished not to hesitate from forwarding any such information on safety, obstructions and rescue related matters noticeable during the pre-election, election and post-election period to the following emergency numbers for swift response.

    “The emergency numbers are FRSC Toll-Free number 122, 09055792372 and 09055792374,” the statement read in part. (NAN)

  • APC stalwart alleges plot to divert materials in Bayelsa

    Former Acting Governor of Bayelsa State and stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Nestor Binabo has accused leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of a plot to hijack electoral materials meant for Wards 6, 11 and 12 in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.
    Speaking in Yenagoa, Binabo called on security agencies especially the police and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be alert and live up to their responsibilities and prevent what he described as a broad-day robbery in the ward.
    He said they had it on good authority that the PDP leaders in the area arranged with armed thugs and positioned them at strategic areas in the creeks to intercept the boats carrying the materials and hijack them before the got to the wards.
     Binabo, a former acting Governor in the state, said they would not accept any election tainted by hijack of electoral materials and other forms of rigging as was allegedly done in previous elections.
    He said the APC stood for free, fair and credible elections and were relying on security operatives to make it possible by preventing the desperation of the PDP in the state.
    He said: ‘This is to notify security agencies especially the police and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of ongoing plans by leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hijack electoral materials meant for Ward 6, Ward 11 and Ward 12 in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa state.
    “We have it on good authority that the PDP leaders in the area have arranged with armed thugs and positioned them at strategic areas in the creeks to intercept the boats carrying the materials and hijack them before they get to the wards.
    “We are calling on security agencies and INEC officials to live up to their responsibilities and prevent this broad-day robbery in wards 6, 11 and 12 in Sagbama
    “We won’t accept any election tainted by hijack of electoral materials and other forms of rigging as was done in previous elections.
    ‘We in the APC stand for free, fair and credible elections and we are relying on security operatives to make it possible by preventing the desperation of the PDP in the state”.

  • Update: Presidential polls materials arrive Oyo state

    As expected, materials for Saturday’s presidential elections have arrived Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
    Confirming the development on telephone, the Oyo Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mutiu Agboke said the materials were safely delivered to the commissions headquarters office in Agodi and would be immediately sorted out and distributed to the various polling centres across the 33 local government areas of the state.

    Read also: INEC has distributed 98 per cent election materials in Borno – REC

    But, Agboke said materials for the Oyo Central senatorial district election is still on the way to Ibadan, expressing confidence that the materials will arrive tonight and be sorted out for onward distribution before the commencement of elections by 8am, Saturday
    However, he did not give details as to why the materials are been delivered in batches.

  • INEC declares ballot papers for Niger East, North missing

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Niger State on Friday said that senatorial elections in Niger East and Niger North may postponed as the ballot papers meant for the zone are missing.

    Prof. Samuel Egwu, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, made the declaration while interacting with newsmen in Minna.

    “The issue has been reported to the INEC’s Headquarters in Abuja for urgent attention,” he said.

    “The officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria saddled with the responsibility of securing the electoral sensitive materials have gone to Abuja for the last batch of the sensitive materials for  Saturday’s elections in the state, so we are waiting,’’ he said.

    Read also: How President Buhari, wife will vote on Saturday

    Egwu said that 85 per cent of the needed facilities for the conduct of free and fare elections in the state had been provided with the non-sensitive materials already moved to various destinations across the 25 local government areas of the state.

    He said that the commission trained 23,000 ad hoc staff for the elections in the state.

    The REC also said that 2,181,400 eligible voters would participate during the general elections in the state.

  • INEC yet to distribute sensitive materials in Edo

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to commence distribution of sensitive materials in Edo State.

    As at press time, sorting of the sensitive materials was still being carried put inside the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria under heavy security.

    Party agents were seen sitting under canopies. Some bought tooth paste and brush to wash their teeth should they be made to sleep there.

    Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alex Hart could not be reached for comments.

    Spokesman for the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, in a statement last night accused INEC of sabotaging the process.

    Nehikhare alleged that sensitive materials were not yet available as at 7pm.

    Read Also: INEC begins distribution of sensitive materials in Imo

    According to the statement: “You will recall that on February 11, 2019 Edo PDP raised the alarm that INEC in collaboration with APC was planning to sabotage the elections blaming it on logistical problems.

    “It’s 7.00pm on the eve of the presidential and National Assembly elections and materials for Edo are not available.

    “This sabotage was orchestrated and a danger to our democracy.

    “They want stand-alone elections so they can deploy their agents of intimidation and harassment. We condemn it and reject it in also its ramifications”.

    Spokesman for Edo APC, Mr. Chris Azebamwan, said the PDP was crying wolf where there are known having known that they have lost the election.

    Azebamwan said the PDP want to create a scenario to discredit the electoral process.

    He wondered how the PDP knew sensitive materials were not available when it did not enter the vault of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

     

  • Late arrival of sensitive materials may delay voting in Benue

    There is likelihood of delay of tomorrow’s presidential polls in several local government areas of Benue state, indications emerged on Friday.

    Although security and other logistics arrangements by INEC, security agencies and both federal and state governments appeared to have run smoothly, sensitive materials arrived from Abuja to Makurdi late on Friday afternoon.

    INEC spokesman, Mr. Andya Terkaa, told our correspondent the delayed arrival was bound to affect things on Saturday, especially as security considerations makes night travel to distant local government areas impractical.

    Speaking with The Nation at his office shortly before 5pm on Friday, he emphasized that while INEC is doing its best, few minor factors may hinder aspects of well laid out plans.

    Read Also: APC on rescue mission in Benue

    “They are sorting out sensitive materials at the Central Bank now.

    “Because sensitive materials arrived Benue very late today, there is likelihood that elections may start late in some distant areas like Vandeikya on Saturday,” he said.

     

  • Fears over fate of IDPs votes in Benue

    Internally-Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) are being disenfranchised and mischievous politicians may be manipulating votes in IDP camps, civil society activists have alleged.

    Although INEC spokesman, Mr. Andya Terkaa, told The Nation that everything was being done to enable all displaced persons with PVC to vote, the Benue State Civil Society Coalition says it discovered arrangements were made for voting in only two out of the eight existing IDP camps.

    Since the bloody bandits’ attacks that reached a high point in January last year, thousands of displaced Benue indigenes have remained in IDP camps amidst unconfirmed reports that some individuals who dared to return home were being shot by unknown assailants.

    “We went to great lengths to sensitise IDPs to vote and more than twenty thousand of them collected PVC but only those in two camps are to vote,” the coalition’s Executive Director, Ms Helen Tegh Tegh told The Nation during an interaction at the office in Makurdi on Friday.

    “The two IDP camps where voting is really taking place are Anyin and Ugba camps, both of which are in Logo local government area.

    “For reasons of security, lack of transport fare and loss of homes during last year’s attacks, thousands of IDPs who were told to go and vote in their respective villages will not be able to use those votes,” Helen Tegh Tegh who is also the Executive Director of Community Link Initiatives stated.

    However, INEC asserted that there is no problem to worry about.

    According to INEC spokesman, Andya Terkaa, the commission did a profiling of ODPs and made provision for adequate number of voting points after realizing that most IDPs cannot go home to vote.

    “The profiling data was taken to Abuja for further analysis and approval and now, the commission is providing IDP Voting Points so that people will not be disenfranchised.

    “In normal polling units, there would be just one or two ballot boxes but several will be provided at the Voting Point, based on the profiling and if it means giving them fifteen ballot boxes, the commission will give them,” he explained.