The Nation Newspaper

Category: Election 2019

  • PDP accuses INEC of hoarding presidential, senatorial election result sheets

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of hoarding the presidential and senatorial elections result sheets for undisclosed reasons.

    The party also claimed that its agents were being denied the INEC accreditation and identification cards, ostensibly to shut them out of the election monitoring process and allow the All Progressives Congress (APC) a field day to manipulate the process.

    In a statement on Friday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said its monitoring and intelligence showed that INEC has been distributing sensitive election materials in most states of the federation without the presidential and senatorial elections results sheets.

    The statement said, “The development is already heightening tension and suspicion of underhand method by the commission to open the elections for manipulations and allow the APC to enter fictitious results for onward transmission to collation centers.

    Read Also: APC kicks as PDP plans its own results collation

    “Intelligence available to us indicate that this is part of the plot for which President Muhammadu Buhari’s relation by marriage, Mrs. Amina Zakari, has been retained as the head of the INEC collation center.

    “The PDP therefore cautions INEC to show its impartiality by immediately releasing the Presidential and senatorial elections result sheet as well as the accreditation cards. Any further delay will be a clear recipe for crisis as Nigerians are already highly agitated over the matter.

    “INEC should note that Nigerians are very anxious about this election and any action that, in anyway, portrays or tends to portray the process as being manipulated is capable of triggering a crisis of unprecedented proportion in our country”.

     

     

  • 2019: INEC concludes distribution of sensitive materials in Kogi

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Lokoja, Kogi, says it has concluded the distribution of sensitive materials for the Presidential and National Assembly elections to all the 21 local government areas of the state.

    The Director of Voter Education and Publicity in the Office, Alhaji Ahmed Biambo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lokoja that the distribution of the materials started at about 2 p.m. on Feb. 14 and ended in the early hours of Friday.

    He said that the materials had safely reached the various local government headquarters from where they would be distributed to the 239 wards in the state.

    Read Also: 1. 7 million PVCs collected in Taraba – INEC

    Biambo said that the problem of mixed up and shortage of some materials identified in the course of the distribution had been resolved, saying that all categories of electoral officers had also been dispatched to the various duty posts

    He expressed the commission’s readiness to conduct free, fair and credible elections and urged the electorate to come out and vote for candidates of their choice, announcing that “there are 1,646,350 registered voters in the state.”

    Meanwhile, Lokoja, the state capital has virtually become empty as many residents, including workers in private and public sectors left the city for their various communities to go and participate in the Feb. 16 elections.

    A NAN correspondent observed that many motor parks in the city were flooded by travellers, who board vehicles to their various destinations.

    Nigerians will go to the polls on Saturday to vote in the Presidential, House of Representatives and Senate elections.

    NAN

  • Buhari urged justify integrity through credible polls

    A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to put his integrity to work by being faithful to his promise to ensure free, fair and credible Presidential and national assembly elections on Saturday.

    He said the President must also demonstrate his strong resolve for a united Nigeria and prove to the whole world that he is really in charge of affairs in the country by working his talks as contained in his nationwide broadcast on Thursday.

    In a statement made available to The Nation, Frank said: “It is good that President Buhari has once again pledged to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible. That is what Nigerians and the world expect of him at this time save for the fact that those who are out to frustrate and rig the elections on his behalf are people he supervises directly.

    “If the President is serious with his promise, let him stop the security agencies, especially the police, military and the DSS from intimidating and harassing Nigerians especially opposition party leaders as we count down to the first election tomorrow.

    “If the President is serious with his promise, let him stop illegal arrests and disruption of voting anywhere across the country by security agencies.

    “If the President is serious on his promise to guarantee a credible election, let him withdraw his men mounting undue pressure on INEC officials to help him win re-election by fraudulently allocating unearned votes to the APC.

    “If the President is serious, let him warn the Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, all National Commissioners of INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioners, staff and all adhoc staff of the agency to abide by their oath of office which is to put Nigeria first above personal and selfish gain during these elections.

    “If the President wants Nigerians and the world to take him serious, let him stop the evil being plotted to disable GSM and internet signals nationwide in order to frustrate voters and election observers from communicating, sharing information and comparing notes.”

    He urged the President to emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan whose commitment to democratic ideals led to a highly acceptable electoral outcome in 2015 and a peaceful transmission of power to the then opposition APC.

    He insisted that Nigerians will only believe his “free and fair elections’ promise if the election is conducted in an atmosphere devoid of intimidation, harassment, violence and rigging by the APC, INEC and security agencies.”

  • Nobody will unseat me – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said that nobody will unseat him.

    He made the remark in a short interview published by CNN Africa on Friday.

    The President also dismissed suggestions that he has no stamina to run the country for another four years.

    He said he would do his best to curtail the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast while thanking Western countries for their support for the nation’s military.

    The short interview went thus:

    They say you don’t have the stamina for another term. What’s your response?

    “Well, I have done it. So, they can give you another answer.”

    You are ready to take this country forward for another four years?

    “Yes. I’m ready for it”.

    Boko Haram, terror groups are still wracking parts of this country, killing Nigerians. What is your plan to stop that?

    “Well, my plans is that, as I mentioned to the general public now, they used to hold 17 local governments. We have in this country constitutionally, 774 local governments.

    “They used to hold 17. They are not technically holding any local government now but they are indoctrinating young men and women, especially girls, wrap them up with explosives and let them explode it on soft targets, churches, mosques, market places, motor parks and other places.”

    Will military be able to stop this terror?

    “Of course, we are doing our best. And we thank the foreign countries, Europe and United States for training our armed forces and going to the front to see how they are performing after their training.”

    One final question. This is a vibrant democracy, you came in, unseating the incumbent. Are you worried the same could happen to you?

    “No. Nobody will unseat me.“

  • Police to deploy air assets, sniffer dogs for polls

    ….We have received our allowances, motivated, say operatives

     

    Lagos Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu has said the command would deploy air assets for constant patrols during the elections.

    He stated this during an interview with reporters at the Command headquarters in Ikeja, adding that there was no anticipation of violence in the state.

    According to the police chief, the command was fully prepared for the exercise and has a robust operation order in place.

    “We have aerial patrols even before the elections. These patrols are going to continue.

    “We do not anticipate any violence anywhere but we have made adequate arrangement just in case we have any.

    “The command is fully prepared for the election. On my arrival in the command I met a robust operation order in place which I went through and was satisfied everything was in place. Now, this operation order has divided Lagos into various commands and formations and all have been adequately planned for.

    “We have not left anywhere unmanned. From INEC offices to the polling units and then collation centers, everywhere is going to be fully manned by security operatives.

    “We are working in collaboration with other security agencies in Lagos State. I want to assure you that all flash points have been protected.

    “Electorates should come out enmass and cast their votes without fear of anything. Adequate security has been provided for each voter at his polling unit to cast his vote,” he said.
    Meanwhile, The Nation gathered that the K-9 (dog) unit of the police would be fully engaged during the exercise especially in areas notorious for drug peddling and related crimes.

    At the state headquarters yesterday, a detachment of operatives including those from the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Anti-bomb and Intelligence Bureau were seen jumping into trucks and buses for movement to their assigned communities and local governments.

    Asked why they were excited, some of the operatives confirmed to The Nation that they have received their allowances. It was gathered the other ranks (Corporal to Sergeant) received N30, 000 and above which were paid directly into their accounts.

  • Ex-Governors want peaceful elections

    The Forum of Former Governors in the country on Friday asked stakeholders in Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections to place national interest above personal interest by ensuring a peaceful and credible election.

    Chairman of the forum and 2nd Republic governor of the old Anambra State , Chief Jim Nwobodo,said in a statement that Nigeria’s survival is more important than who wins the elections.

    Nwobodo also enjoined every Nigerian to ensure that the unity of Nigeria is not threatened in any way by the elections, and enjoined politicians to play by the rules of free, fair and credible elections.

    “It should be noted by all irrespective of tribe and tongue that the country’s corporate existence must not in any way be threatened. The survival of Nigeria is paramount and should be defended by all,” he said.

    “The Forum, which is Nigeria’s unity Forum will consistently work for peaceful, credible and violent free elections and appeal to all the stakeholders nationwide to work towards the same goal of ensuring peaceful and credible elections.”

  • Immigration to foreigners: vote and go to jail

    The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has reiterated its warning to foreign nationals to keep off voting areas during elections or face prosecution, deportation.

    King Ekpedeme, the head of the service in Lagos gave the warning during a phone chat with our Correspondent on Friday.

    He said that the NIS had in the past five months engaged leaders of foreign nationals especially those from the Economic Community of West and Central African States (ECOWAS), (ECCAS) to speak to their people on the need to stay out of Nigeria’s elections.

    Ekpedeme also said the service had retrieved several Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) from none Nigerians, adding that it has emplaced mechanisms to forestall foreigners from taking part in the exercise.

    He said: “Lagosians should not be worried about the possibility of foreign nationals voting in this election.

    Already, the borders have been closed today and the NIS had been retrieving PVCs from non-Nigerians.

    “Also, we have had several engagements with the leaders of our brothers from neighbouring countries who have spoken to their nationals and assured us they will not come out in election.

    “We have also made it clear that anyone found will be prosecuted and afterwards deported to their country. I want to believe that the message has been well received by them. This election is for Nigerians only and none Nigerians should stay in their homes.“

  • Police bar VIPs with security details from polling units

    The Bauchi State Police command have barred political appointees and other dignitaries from bringing their escorts to polling units during Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections across the twenty local government areas.

    The Commissioner of Police, CP Ali Janja, gave the directive at a briefing with media practitioners and other relevant stakeholders superintending over the election.

    “Important personalities and politicians have been barred from going to any polling unit with their security details.

    “They are also warned to desist from moving from one place to another on the Election day, as provided under the Electoral Act,” he said.

    The directives, he added, also cover the gubernatorial and State House of Assembly election on March 2.

    Read Also; IPOB: Kanu calls off election boycott

    Also, a restriction order has been placed for the two elections respectively and only personnel on essential duties with valid accreditation card will be allowed free movement with strict monitoring.

    “There will be total restriction of movement of persons and vehicles between the midnight hour of Friday 15th February 2019 to 5:00 pm on Saturday,” he added.

    Miscreants, thugs and other disgruntled elements are also barred from coming near accreditation centres and polling units as he vows to deal with anyone fomenting trouble in accordance with the law.

    He assured that every flashpoint area in the state will be given adequate security as other areas will be adequately protected too as he appealed for continued support and cooperation of the public.

  • INEC has distributed 98 per cent election materials in Borno – REC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) says it has achieved about 98 per cent delivery of non-sensitive election materials to polling units ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The commission said it had also begun the distribution of sensitive materials to all the 27 local government areas of the state; adding that it was expecting to complete the exercise on Friday.

    The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim, made the disclosure at a news conference on Friday in Maiduguri.

    Ibrahim explained that non-sensitive materials, such as voter registers, voting cubicles, Smart Card Reader, power generator and others were currently being distributed to polling centres.

    He disclosed that 2, 315, 956 eligible voters were expected to vote in the elections in the state.

    Read Also: INEC begins distribution of sensitive materials in Imo

    Ibrahim said 435 candidates were presented by 41 political parties for various posts, including governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly.

    He also said about 11, 000 security personnel were deployed for the elections, to secure 3, 933 polling units (PUs), electoral officers, election materials as well as buildings and premises.

    The REC said the commission had registered 409, 000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from eight local government areas, who would vote in designated camps.

    The commissioner listed the affected councils to include Abadam, Guzamala, Marte, Dikwa, Ngala, Kukawa, Mobbar and Kala Balge.

  • Photos: INEC begins distribution of election materials

    Ahead of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has begun the distribution of sensitive election materials in Ibadan.

     

    Read Also; INEC begins distribution of sensitive materials in Imo