The Nation Newspaper

Category: Kogi/Bayelsa 2019

  • Armed thugs’ll be shot on sight, IGP warns

    By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja and James Azania, Lokoja

    Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu on Tuesday said security operatives on election duty in Kogi State will not hesitate to gun down any unauthorised person attempting to use firearm in any part of the state during the ongoing electioneering process.

    Adamu gave the warning in Lokoja on during a stakeholders’ meeting/signing of Peace Accord among political parties and candidates, organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The police boss, who spoke after INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had delivered his address, also warned police men on guard duties with politicians not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to perpetrate illegality on election day.

    He warned that any policeman caught roaming the street without proper authorisation would be arrested.

    Read Also: PSC to monitor police conduct during Bayelsa, Kogi elections

    Adamu, who said the police was working with other security agencies, also warned that the police would be on the lookout for those who would be out on the election day to either buy or sell votes, warning that vote buying remained a criminal offence.

    He, however, assured that the police would be professional and be ready to provide a level playing ground for all parties and participants, adding that the police and other security operatives on election duty would protect all INEC and other election officials, as well as materials for the exercise, against attacks.

    The police boss said: “Security agents are ready for this election. We pledge to be professional, we pledge to provide a level playing field to all participating parties. Every polling unit, INEC officials and materials, NYSC members and all that will be playing one role or the other shall be secured.

    “If you are armed, please report it to the police and surrender the arm now before it’s too late. If you are intending to use arms, be warned. If you are lucky, you will be arrested when you are sighted attempting to use it. If you are unlucky, you will be taken out before you succeed in using it.”

  • ‘PDP, SDP plan to use thugs

    By James Azania, Lokoja

    Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council on Tuesday alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) are planning to dress thugs in falsely inscribed GYB/APC caps and jackets.

    Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the APC campaign council, Kingsley Fanwo, said in a statement that intelligence report at their disposal indicated that the two opposition parties were in “evil connivance” in this respect.

    Read Also: SDP, APC trade words over burnt party secretariat

    He said: “The Social Democratic Party and the Peoples Democratic Party have perfected plans to produce fez caps and jackets with the inscription of GYB and APC; which they will distribute to hoodlums and mercenaries imported from neighboring states.

    “The hoodlums have been instructed by the SDP and the PDP to invade polling units and cause mayhem during the governorship election, to give the governor a bad name and to harp on that at the tribunal since they already know the governor will win the election, going by the massive acceptance by the people.

    “We urge security agencies to enhance security at the polling units to protect the franchise of the Kogi people.

    “The governorship election is not war, but an expression of the right of the Kogi people to elect their leader.”

  • PDP challenges INEC on card readers

    By Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to tidy up its acts preparatory to the November 16 governorship election in Kogi State.

    In a statement by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party called on the electoral umpire to end what it described as INEC’s apparent tilt towards underhandedness in the processes leading to the election.

    The PDP’s call is coming against the backdrop of INEC’s perceived failure to openly inform stakeholders on the election modalities, particularly the use of card readers.

    The party also faulted the refusal of the electoral body to disclose the mode of accreditation, voting, as well as collation, transmission and declaration of election results from the polling units to the final declaration.

    Read Also: IGP, INEC Chairman teargassed in Lokoja

    Owing to these lapses, the PDP has raised questions on the sincerity of the commission to deliver a credible election.

    The party said suppression of such vital information ahead of a crucial election had heightened suspicion and allegations of conspiracies between INEC and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to muddle up and manipulate the electoral processes to favour the ruling APC.

    The situation, the PDP noted, was already generating tension in the state, stressing that voters in the state had insisted on having a transparent, free and credible election that would only reflect their wishes and aspirations at the polls.

    The statement read: “Our party forewarns the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, not to cause trouble in Kogi State by immediately declaring the mode of transmission of results given the claims by the commission, before the Presidential Election Petition Panel, that it does not have a server.

    “The PDP charges the INEC Chairman not to allow the Commission to be entangled with the sinister plots of the APC. He should immediately clear the air on the manner of accreditation of voters, checking of voter register disparities, the modality for voting as well as whether the commission will deploy manual or electronic transmission of election results to the final declaration.

    “The PDP wants INEC to know that the party and the people of Kogi State are not leaving anything to chances in this election.

    “For the people of Kogi State, this election marks their irrevocable determination to entrench a new order in their state and they are not ready to accept any process that does not point to assurances of a transparent, credible, free and fair election.

    “Our party, therefore, requests the management of INEC to provide answers to these crucial issues within the next 24 hours as its silence is already spawning anxieties, which are capable of triggering serious crisis ahead of the election.”

  • Police teargas IGP, INEC chairman, others in Kogi

    By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja and James Azania, Lokoja

    Dignitaries, including the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and National Commissioners of the commission were yesterday tear-gassed in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital while policemen were trying to put down an uproar at the venue of the stakeholders’ meeting organised by the electoral umpire.

    The stakeholders’ meeting/signing of peace accord among political parties and candidates, organised by INEC, with senior police officers and loads of their well-armed men on standby, was almost disrupted when those suspected to be thugs of the ruling party used force to prevent the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Natasha Akpoti, from entering the venue of the event.

    It was a rowdy situation for close to 20 minutes at the main entrance of the event’s venue, where the two groups (those who wanted to bring the candidate in and those trying to prevent her entrance) struggled to gain control of the entrance.

    However, as neither of the two groups yielded ground and would not listen to entreaties from security agents, policemen on guard duty fired a couple of teargas canisters to disperse the contending groups, at the door. The whiff of smoke from the teargas spiraled into the event’s hall, affecting all occupants, including the police inspector general, who was seen covering his nose.

    Read Also: Kogi election: 11th-hour judgements won’t alter our plans – INEC

    However, while the fracas was on and the whole place was in commotion, INEC continued with the business of conducting the signing of the peace accord, which 17 political parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition parties, led by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) endorsed.

    Trying to give a background to the commotion, spokesman to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, explained that Akpoti arrived late to the event, as it was well into its conduct when the fight outside the door started.

    He, however, condemned the attack on the candidate, whose candidacy was recently affirmed by a court.

    Oyekanmi said: “We are inside the hall and wouldn’t know what is going on outside. One thing is sure: she did not arrive in good time as at the time the event started, but that is not enough reason for anybody to prevent her from coming inside. She has a right to take her place inside the hall.

    “We have heard that she is outside and efforts are currently being made to bring her inside the hall. We need her to sign the Peace Accord, the process of which is currently on.

    “We asked the Legal Officer of our Kogi State Office to go outside the hall and look for Natasha Akpoti, but he came back and reported that he searched the entire premises but could not locate her or her entourage.

    “Now, the representative of the SDP inside the hall was asked to endorse the Peace Accord, but he refused.”

    Meanwhile, candidates of opposition political parties have raised the alarm over what they described as continued intimidation and oppression of their chieftains and members.

    Governorship candidate of the PDP, Musa Wada, while speaking at the event urged the Inspector-General of Police to intervene in the plight of the opposition in Kogi State, saying their members were afraid for their lives.

  • Kogi election: 11th-hour judgements won’t alter our plans – INEC

    By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has foreclosed any adjustment to its arrangement for the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections on account of recently delivered court judgments.

    Chairman of the Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this on Tuesday in Lokoja, during a stakeholders’ meeting/signing of peace accord among political parties and candidates, also assured INEC was ready to conduct next Saturday’s election.

    He declared all non-sensitive materials had been delivered to the commission’s office in Lokoja while the sensitive materials had been delivered to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The INEC boss also emphasised the essential value of the Smart Card Readers (SRC), saying their use is mandatory in accordance with the regulations and guidance of the commission for the conduct of elections.

    Yakubu however, appealed to all stakeholders to help the INEC in making the exercise a peaceful and successful exercise, saying that all the efforts of the commission to deliver a free, fair and peaceful election require the support and commitment of all stakeholders.

    According to him: “I would like to assure the people of Kogi State that our preparations will not be affected by the judgement delivered five days ago in which a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered the Commission to include a political party on the ballot.

    “Although the judgement is at variance with the decision of another Federal High Court in Abuja delivered ten days earlier which affirmed the propriety of the Commission’s action in a similar case by another political party, INEC has a consistent record of obeying court orders.

    “However, we will consider legitimate steps to address the conflicting judgements by courts of coordinate jurisdiction in the interest of our electoral jurisprudence.

    “Furthermore, with four days to the Governorship elections, two more cases challenging the decision of the Commission on the validity of candidates’ nominations have been reserved for judgement in Bayelsa and Kogi States.

    “In addition, there are twelve (12) cases of intra-party disputes filed by aspirants from different political parties challenging the conduct of their own primaries and nomination of candidates, some of which have been reserved for judgement in the next few days.

    “I must admit that the plethora of court cases and conflicting judgements delivered on the eve of elections in Nigeria are stressful to the Commission and costly to the nation.

    Read Also; Kogi guber: PDP, SDP distributing cloned Bello gears to armed thugs – APC

    “However, I wish to reassure the people of Bayelsa and Kogi States that learning from experience, the Commission has taken steps to ensure that the elections on Saturday in the two States are not affected by any eleventh hour judgement.

    “With only four days to the election, how prepared is the Commission? The short answer is that we are ready.

    “So far, the Commission has successfully implemented 12 out of our 14-point plan for the election as required by law.

    “The Commission has delivered all non-sensitive materials for the election to our office here in Lokoja.

    “The sensitive materials for the Governorship and Kogi West Senatorial Re-run elections are also ready.

    “As usual, they are being handled by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The normal process of inspection and distribution of sensitive materials within the State will be done in the presence of party agents, security agencies, observers and the media.

    “The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Kogi State will communicate the date and time for stakeholders’ inspection and the arrangements for deployment in line with the Commission’s established procedure.

    “For emphasis, let me reiterate that the Smart Card Readers (SCRs) have been configured.

    “It is mandatory to use the SCRs for voter accreditation and authentication in line with the Commission’s regulations and guidelines for the conduct of elections.

    “Let me also reiterate that voter inducement in all forms, including vote-buying at polling units is a violation of the law.

    “The ban on the use of mobile phones and other photographic devices in the voting cubicles is still in force and will be strictly enforced and monitored.”

  • Kogi: You’ll be shot before you make use of illegal arms, IGP warns

    Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja and James Azania, Lokoja

     

    The Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police, IGP Muhammed Adamu, has said security operatives on election duty in Kogi state will not hesitate to gun down any unauthorised person attempting to use firearm in any part of the state during the electioneering process.

    The IGP sounded the warning in Lokoja on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting/signing of peace accord among political parties and candidates, organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The police chief, who spoke after the Chairman of the INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, had delivered his address, also warned police men on guard duties with politicians not to allow to be used by politicians to perpetrate illegality on election day, warning that anyone caught roaming the street without proper authorisation would be arrested.

    Adamu, who said the police was working with other security agencies, also warned that the police would be on the lookout for those who would be out on the Election Day to either buy or sell votes, warning that vote buying is a criminal offense.

    He, however assured that the police would be professional, ready to provide a level playing ground for all parties and participants, adding that the police and other security operatives on election duty would protect all INEC and other election officials, as well as materials for the exercise, against attacks.

    Read Also: Tension in Kogi as hoodlums set SDP office ablaze

    “Security agents are ready for this election. We pledge to be professional; we pledge to provide a level playing field to all participating parties. Every polling unit, INEC officials and materials, NYSC members and all that will be playing one role or the other shall be secured.

    “While doing that, we will not tolerate people coming to buy or sell votes. Anyone caught will be arrested, kept out of circulation and be prosecuted. The collation centres will be protected so there will be no disruption.

    “If you are armed, please report it to the police and surrender the arm now before it’s too late. If you are intending to use arms, be warned, if you are lucky, you will be arrested when you are sighted attempting to use it. If you are unlucky, you will be taken out before you succeed in using it,” the IGP warned.

  • Judgement against our running mate dead on arrival, says Bayelsa APC

    By Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

     

    The Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described a judgment disqualifying its Deputy Governorship Candidate for Saturday’s election, Senator Biabarakuma Degi as dead on arrival.

    The Publicity Secretary of the Party, Doifie Buokoribo said: “The judgement occasioned a miscarriage of justice, is glaringly perverse and against the weight of evidence before the Court.

    “We are totally surprised that the Court could despite the objections by our lawyers, go ahead to determine a weighty criminal allegation of falsification and fraud solely on the bases of affidavit evidence contrary to well established judicial precedents that such must be proved beyond reasonable doubt by calling oral evidence.

    Read Also; Gunmen kill two policemen in Bayelsa

    “We strongly believe that the judgment can not withstand a superior judicial scrutiny, therefore, our lawyers have filed a notice of appeal and other court processes to arrest the execution of the judgment pending the outcome of the appeal.

    “We call on all our members and supporters not to be distracted but continue to peacefully mobilize for the November 16, 2019 elections”

     

  • PDP will win in Bayelsa, says Dickson

     By Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

    Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson, has boasted that his party, the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) will convincingly coast home to victory on Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

    A statement signed on Monday by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Fidelis Soriwei, said the governor spoke during a live media chat in Yenagoa.

    Dickson said his confidence of the landslide victory for the PDP was hinged on the support shown by the people during the constituency-based campaigns of the party.

    The governor said the dominance of the PDP in Bayelsa politics was not under any threat from the APC.

    He commended the exceptional performance of his administration especially in the area of enthroning a tolerant political culture to accommodate all politicians including the opposition.

    He said his Restoration Government made history for providing an enabling environment for all political parties to campaign round the state without any breach of the peace.

    He said that the campaigns of the various political parties had been smooth without any incidence of violence and killings because of the deliberate policy of sustained investment in security by his government.

    He said: “Investments have made in security and stability over the years by this government. Even though we are counting days to a governorship election, an election that has generated a lot of interest, it is gratifying that our state is still very calm, peaceful and stable.

    Read Also; PDP confused, jittery over possible loss at Appeal Court

    “And that is the evidence of the investments that my government has been making in the last close to eight years, which is why we will continue to remain one of the most peaceful and stable states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “Few days to a governorship election, for the first time, we are seeing a Bayelsa that is calm. There are no explosions, no major security breaches, no hoodlums threatening people, even though some of the rallies APC in Yenagoa have been characterised by a lot of brigandage but it’s nothing compared to the past.”

    The governor also urged the people of Bayelsa to cast their votes for Senator Douye Diri to sustain the prevailing peace, stability and other enduring legacies of his administration.

    He called on traditional rulers to be neutral and not to heat up the polity by adopting a political party as all the candidates were their subjects.

    “I have given recognition to traditional rulers more than any other government so I want you to protect the dignity of your office”, he said.

    The governor who urged people of Bayelsa to vote wisely, reminded them that the election was about the future of their children.

    Highlighting his performance in office, he said his administration’s achievements surpassed that of his predecessors adding that Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation would be better off voting the PDP.

    The governor who described the state international airport as the single biggest investment located in the heartland of the Niger Delta, called on the people particularly the Southern Ijaw, Yenagoa and Kolokuma/Opokuma local government areas to vote the PDP.

    He called on the people to discountenance the propaganda being peddled by the APC, against the airport, which, he said, was borne out of hatred and shame.

    Dickson explained that the airport project gulped about N70billion and not N100 billion being bandied in some quarters to discredit his administration.

    He said: “The APC leader in this state should bury his head in shame because he had the opportunity to build this airport but deceived Bayelsans and the federal government even after receiving so much support.

    “We came and without any dime from the Federal Government, we built the airport from the scratch and it is ready for use today. What is holding the take off of the world class facility is the delay in the issuance of the operational license by the APC led federal government.”

  • PDP denies printing ballot papers in Bayelsa

    Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied an allegation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that it was printing ballot papers and other sensitive electoral materials to compromise the Saturday governorship election in Bayelsa State.

    The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Osom Macbere, said the APC was merely displaying what he described as cerebral slothfulness insisting that the PDP had no reason to show desperation to win the poll.

    He said: “That allegation is a mere display of cerebral slothfulness. The Bayelsa State PDP, given its time-honored cling to political power, dating back to 1999, is the dominant force here and so, needn’t degenerate into those desperate ploys to winning the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

    “We are as good as the past elections and haven gone round the ends of the entire state canvassing for votes with our pedigree pick, Sen. Douye Diri and Sen. Erhujakpo, plus the issues-based manifesto, the PDP is coasting home to victory.

    READ ALSO: PDP will win in Bayelsa, says Dickson

    “But, if one may ask: ‘would the APC be privy to proof of those serious allegations and not do the obligatory by causing complaints to INEC, the custos moron of election offenses, and the Nigerian Police for appropriate action’?

    “That is evident that they lack the ingredients of responsibility and responsiveness that governing a state is saddled with. Such bunch are too numbskull to be allowed to get political power.

    “Not wanting to dissipate energy over the idle rants, I sum up that the APC is tending to distract the PDP and the electorate away from their anti-democracy machinations to deploying soldiers and heavily armed policemen in their favor.

    “Let me remind them that no amount of voter intimidation would cow the people of Bayelsa State to accord their unpopular and incompetent candidate the serious business of state management”.

  • APC promises to take over Kogi, Bayelsa

    By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

    All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it has assurances of winning the two governorship seats in Bayelsa and Kogi states come November 16.

    Speaking on the party’s chances during a chat with The Nation in Abuja over the weekend, the acting National Secretary of the party, Chief Victor Giadom, said all the indices in both states have been positive for the APC, adding that the party is not leaving anything to chances.

    According to him, while the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has been losing both leaders and members to the APC in the past weeks, the APC in Kogi has been up and doing sorting out all forms of disagreements within its ranks, all to make sure that the party takes advantage of the positive indices on its plate.

    He said: “First, I hope you are aware of the crisis in the Bayelsa PDP, to the extent that cabinet commissioners and other appointees of the present government in Bayelsa are finding their way into the All Progressives Congress (APC). That is a clear manifestation of what will be the outcome of the November 16 election in that state. For us in the APC, we are very convinced that with our candidate, David Lyon, our party is well positioned to capture Bayelsa State.

    “We have no worry about what the outcome will be because democracy or election is about the people. It is the collective decision of the people of Bayelsa that will prevail and looking at what is happening in Bayelsa, it is obvious that Bayelsans are tilting towards the APC. They have tried the PDP for a long time and they appear not to be convinced any longer that that is where to be; so they have emptied themselves into our own party and we are very sure of victory.

    Read Also: Bayelsa: APC fully ready to win polls landslide – Badaru

    “For Kogi, we have been able to put everybody together and the party has put a reconciliation meeting in place with aspirants in the party in the state. Everybody is now on board, by the grace of God and we feel come November 16, our party will win Kogi State. Kogi and Bayelsa are up for the APC.”

    Responding to the insinuation that the APC had been showing signs of failure as a party and might not last beyond the reign of President Muhammadu Buhari, Giadom said such thoughts were only found with those who did not know how solid the party’s foundation was.

    According to him, the APC is currently devoted to delivering its promises to Nigerians and it will not allow the insinuations redirect its focus from what it considers very important.

    “Such insinuations were everywhere, before the last election, but APC proved them wrong, all the nay sayers. You don’t stop people from speculating, especially when you have a large family and that is doing as well as APC is doing. You can’t stop them from speculating, but we know our party has a very sound foundation and we have followership and members that can deliver our party any time, any day.

    “We are not bothered about all that. What our party is concerned about now is delivering on its promises to Nigerians; that is what we are focused on right now, we don’t want to be bothered by speculations of those who don’t know better”, he said.