The Nation Newspaper

Category: Verdict 2015

Election in Nigeria 2015

  • April 11: Rivers leaders, elders call for massive vote for APC

    April 11: Rivers leaders, elders call for massive vote for APC

    The Rivers Elders and Leadership Council (RELEC) has called on the people of the Niger Delta state to massively vote on Saturday for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside.

    The leaders insisted that another Ikwerre person would not be allowed to succeed Governor Rotimi Amaechi, an Ikwerre from Ubima in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers state.

    RELEC, through its Chairman. Chief Albert Horsfall, a former Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Wednesday in Port Harcourt, stated that the upland/riverine dichotomy in the state must be respected.

    The Rivers elders were apparently referring to the state’s governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Nyesom Wike, an Ikwerre, a former Minister of State for Education, who hails from Rumueprikom in Obio/Akpor LGA.

    RELEC said: “It is the considered directive and advice of the RELEC elders that all Rivers people should vote Dakuku Peterside for governor and accordingly urge Peterside and all other riverine candidates to enter into immediate consultations to collaborate, in order to avoid splitting the votes for single riverine candidate.

    “We must not sleep-walk into another avoidable catastrophe. We must ignore anyone or group who tries to instigate us to violence, with the erroneous impression that what we could not do when we were in authority and power for six years, we could do now if we remain in power another day or year.

    “Is it not sad and disgraceful that since 1999 when civilian democracy returned to this country, this state has never had a proper democratic election, where-as other states have all tried, successfully and started to do so? For us, it has been the same practice of ‘carry go’; stuffing of ballot boxes; intimidation and violence, and writing false results, after illegal thumb-printing of ballot papers.

    “We are pre-dominantly Christians in this state and we must not allow religious politics or politicking to grow in the state. Christ and Christianity is our chosen and cherished belief; nothing must be done to subvert or undermine our own way of life. The rights, traditions and culture of our people must be respected and recognised.

    “Dear Rivers people, can we once again remain in opposition to the Federal Government and see our people continuously deprived in a land where we have made so much contribution and sacrifice? That is what we get when we vote a PDP candidate for governor. So, think again, our dear Rivers people.”

    The elders also stated that a successful, but partly rigged election for governorship was conducted in 1998, and a stable administration emerged after that election in 1999, stressing that the sailing was okay and there was a peaceful and trouble-free conduct of affairs in Rivers state throughout 1999 and most of year 2000, lamenting that from 2001, killer gangs were organised by top politicians in the state government, first under a serving police officer, to hunt down and kill imagined opponents.

  • New REC resumes in Kogi amidst tension

    New REC resumes in Kogi amidst tension

    Amidst stringent allegations of plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in collaboration with some elements within the rank of the electoral umpire, the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) has posted a new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to Kogi State to oversee next Saturday’s state assembly election.

    Addressing reporters in Lokoja, the new REC, Prof. Jacob Jatau dispelled the allegation, saying he was in the state to conduct free, fair and credible election.

    Jatau served as REC in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where he oversaw the conduct of the March 28 presidential election.

    The All Progressives Party (APC) had alleged plans by the PDP in connivance with INEC in the state to use its Ad-hoc staff to discard the use of card readers at various polling units.

    The APC said the plan was being hatched in order to manipulate the state assembly poll in favour of PDP candidates.

    The REC assured all parties that INEC will not take sides, saying preparation for Saturday’s state assembly election in the state had reached advanced state.

    “We are here to conduct election and this I assure you all will be discharged to the best of my knowledge. We are not here to favour anybody. That I know”, he said.

    He warned that results from areas where there are reports of ballot box snatching will be cancelled

    The former REC, Hussain Pai was posted to Kano State, following the tragic death of the Kano, Mukaila Abdullahi.

  • Anambra: Observers demand immediate set up of tribunals

    Anambra: Observers demand immediate set up of tribunals

    Following the alleged manipulations and irregularities that characterized the presidential and national assembly elections in Anambra state, the coalition of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accredited observers is demanding immediate set up of elections petition tribunals in the state to correct the anomalies.

    Briefing reporters Wednesday at the Marble Arch Hotels in Awka, Anambra state, the INEC observers led by Chris Azor, said the results of the elections were mutilated with falsification of figures in favour of one party.

    According to the observers, “we must consciously discourage the practice of installing the wrong person on elective office because of the obvious negative implication on good governance, accountability and peaceful co-existence”.

    The group insisted that the experience of late commencement of polling would not re-occur, adding that INEC should not stretch the patience of the Nigerian voter beyond tolerable level in future elections.

    The group therefore, called on INEC to make clear what guidelines would govern the accreditation process during the April 11th, 2015 elections.

    “We urge the commission to make a clear and definitive statement on these elections taken into account needs to correct its own deficiencies and inform the Nigerian public as what to expect on Saturday,” it said.

    Furthermore, the group observed with dismay, the discrepancy between results declared at the polling units and the collation centers, adding that such highlights the weakness of the collation process.

    The observers therefore, recommended that votes cast in polling units, be cross checked to tally with results posted at the collation centres.

  • Gombe REC urges candidates to emulate Jonathan, Buhari

    Gombe REC urges candidates to emulate Jonathan, Buhari

    Candidates for Saturday’s election have been urged to emulate examples of how to handle outcome of results as set by incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and the President Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari in the interest of the public.

    Gombe state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Kassim Gaidam said this while commenting on the extent of preparations by the Independent Electoral Commission INEC for the governorship and state legislative houses on Saturday.

    “I am more concerned about doing a peaceful election and finish in good time. We also expect the candidates to tow the lines of the President Elect and the present President.

    “We expect the candidates to follow the good examples set by them in the interest of our good people,” he said.

    He said the state office of INEC would build on the successes of March 28 where minimal lapses were recorded just as some of the security situation noticed during the exercise had been addressed.

    He said one of such steps was to start distribution of electoral materials Wednesday, unlike the presidential election where materials were distributed on Thursday.

    The Deputy Commissioner of Police DCP Iwuka said every security arrangements for March 28 were still on ground and intact.

    He reiterated that unauthorised organisation with uniforms would still not be allowed at the polling stations except the Peace Corps which had been co-opted by the INEC office in the state.

    He said arrangements had been made for some polling stations which did not have security presence, adding that all those not authorised had been adequately communicated.

     

  • 12 Gov’s candidates, 265 candidates for Oyo Assembly election – REC

    12 Gov’s candidates, 265 candidates for Oyo Assembly election – REC

    The Independent National Electoral‎ Commission (INEC), has disclosed that 12 governorship candidates and 14 political parties has presented 265 candidates to contest for the 32 seats in the Oyo State House of Assembly elections on Saturday.

    The Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Rufus Akeju stated this Wednesday during the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Security meeting held in Ibadan.

    According to him, ballot papers will be distributed on the basis of permanent voters’ cards collected by voters, adding that it is aimed at preventing electoral malpractice that may occur with the excess ballot papers.

    Akeju disclosed that 47,254 ballot papers were rejected at the presidential election, stressing that:” A preliminary investigation conducted by this office revealed that a large percentage of the rejected votes came from voters that voted for parties that did not present candidates for the position.”

    He said smart card ‎readers will be fully deployed and utilised for the election, promising that wherever a card reader malfunctions, a replacement from the contingency arrangement will be provided.

    ‎Akeju said political parties and party functionaries making unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations of electoral fraud against his office is yet to wake up or embrace the sanity in the electoral process.

    “Probably they are on an expedition, ultimate search for acceptable excuses for their anticipated electoral failure. The power to determine who receives any mandate lies with the voters, the election management body merely provides the enabling environment as stated in the electoral law with the active support of the security,” he said

    The INEC boss promised voters that the commission will provide needed materials in the required quantity with well -trained personnel for the Saturday election.

  • Kano: INEC commences distribution of sensitive materials

    Kano: INEC commences distribution of sensitive materials

    The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in Kano have commenced the distribution of sensitive materials across the 44 Local Government Areas of the State in readiness for Saturday’s gubernatorial and State Assembly polls.

    The newly posted Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Hussaini Halilu Pai told reporters in Kano Wednesday that sensitive materials are now been conveyed to the Registration Areas Centres  (RAC) in the various Local Government Areas for easy distribution in the polling units, which have been customised according to the Local Government Areas.

    While distributing the sensitive materials at INEC Headquarters in the presence of the various Security Agencies to the Electoral officers for onward distribution to the Adhoc staff, Halilu said that the timely distribution of the ballot papers and the result sheets would facilitate the early commencement of accreditation and voting.

    The new REC, said that the Commission would not fold its arms and allow any adhoc staff to hamper the good works of the Commission, adding that any of them who indulges in any anomaly would not be spared.

    Speaking on some of the malfunctioning card readers, the REC explained that those discovered to be faulty have since been replaced, adding that all the card reader machines have been re-configured and re-charged for a successful accreditation process during the election.

    On security, he said a meeting of the inter-agency security Committees would be conveyed, which would be headed by the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, where security matters would addressed to forestall any eventuality in the conduct of the elections.

    Halilu said all arrangements for the conduct of Saturday’s Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections is on course in Kano State, adding that: ”We are not leaving any stone unturned to ensure the successful conduct of the exercise.

    ”I have come here to conduct an election, I hope and pray to deliver a free, fair and credible election, so after that my mission would have been accomplished, and my achievement would be based on all of us joining hands together to ensure the success of the election.”

    However, a total of 22 candidates are contesting for the seat of Kano State Governor, while 239 candidates are contesting for the seat of 40 State House of Assembly members.

  • Cross River must remain PDP state – Ita-Giwa

    Cross River must remain PDP state – Ita-Giwa

    Political leader of the Bakassi people in Cross River State, Princess Florence Ita-Giwa, Wednesday said the state must remain a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) state despite losing the presidential elections.

    Addressing market women in a campaign to mobilize support for the PDP governorship candidate, Prof Ben Ayade, in Calabar, she said everyone must not belong to the same party.

    According to her a proper democracy required healthy opposition. “I don’t intend to cross carpet because we did not win at the centre. There must be healthy opposition in a good democracy. The All Progressives Congress (APC) played a healthy opposition, so the PDP should also play that part,” she said.

  • Alleged Ekiti Killing: You lied, APC tells Fayose

    Alleged Ekiti Killing: You lied, APC tells Fayose

    • As Police arrest PDP thugs with dangerous weapons

     

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has described as untrue reports that the convoy of the APC lawmakers killed a man at Efon Alaaye-Ekiti on Tuesday.

    It said that the report by Governor Ayodele Fayose’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, alleging the lawmakers’ convoy killed a man was the figment of his imagination and one in the series of media spins he had been selling to the unsuspecting public to mislead the people to get sympathy.

    Reacting to ‎social and electronic media reports of the purported killing, the Special Adviser on Media to Speaker Omirin, Wole Olujobi, said the governor’s aide was in a familiar terrain of mindless propaganda to mislead the public.

    “The truth is that no one was killed. Nobody saw a dead body on the way up to Itawure junction where the soldiers disallowed us to pass. Itawure junction is not the same as Efon-Alaaye, so we don’t know where he got his story.

    “However, we heard that Fayose removed a dead body from the mortuary and presented it to Efon people, claiming that Honourable Folorunso Ogundele, a member of the House of Assembly and an indigene of Efon-Alaaye, was the one who pulled the trigger to kill a fellow Efon-Alaaye man in order to instigate violence in the town against him,” the statement explained.

    It added: “For those who know Fayose very well, this story is typical of his rabble-rousing tactics to cause mob action against opponents.

    “It is gratifying that the people were able to quickly decipher that Fayose was up to a mischief to set brothers against brothers.”

    The statement explained that the soldiers who stopped the lawmakers on their way offered no explanation for their action. “Instead of losing our cool for their strange behaviour, we just left the place,” the statement explained.

    It added that sources later confirmed that the soldiers were allegedly under a firm instruction of Brigadier-General ‎Aliyu Momah to disallow the lawmakers from passing through the check-point.

    It said that General Momah, whose voice was heard among those that were implicated in the leaked audio tape detailing Ekiti election fraud, is the Commander of the Battalion where the soldiers at the check-point‎ are attached.

    Meanwhile, the lawmakers have vowed to go ahead with the impeachment proceedings, saying that the lawmakers had a constitutional duty and responsibility to probe any infraction of the constitution.

    Also yesterday, five suspected thugs working for PDP were seized by the police in Ado-Ekiti. They include one Ademola Bello, S.A to Fayose on Political Matters, one Ojo, Wasiu Ogunshakin, Dada Adewumi, Kayode Oso, Commissioner for Works, Adeyanju Oluwole, Raphael Adebayo and Babajide Adebayo.

    They were arrested in a black colour Ford Hilux vehicle with registration number – EK 05B27 -and one blue coloured Toyota Hilux with registration number – AA 363 YEK.

    Recovered from them are 250-litre container of petrol, a container of acid, guns, axes, cutlasses and charms. They were also in possession of fake US Dollars and a parcel of Indian hemp.

    The thugs were arrested about 200 meters to Ekiti State House of Assembly where they planned to storm the Assembly to attack APC lawmakers.

    Scores of other suspected thugs escaped arrest as they abandoned their vehicle and fled to the bush.

  • April 11 poll: Jonathan urges Nigerians to remain peaceful

    April 11 poll: Jonathan urges Nigerians to remain peaceful

    As the nation prepares for Saturday’s governorship and State Assembly elections, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan calls on all Nigerians to remain peaceful, united and law-abiding.

    In a statement by Reuben Abati, special adviser to the President on media and publicity, the president condemns attempt by some politicians, groups and individuals to intimidate others, heat up the polity and cause public disorder and disaffection in the aftermath of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The statement reads; “President Jonathan is especially concerned about the negative triumphalism that has been put on display by certain elements since March 31 which flies in the face of his personal commitment to post-election peace, unity and national stability.

    “The President calls on all those, who  through their actions and utterances, have been promoting divisiveness, sectionalism and ethnic hatred in the country following the outcome of the March 28 elections to cease and desist from actions that detract from the true spirit and culture of democracy envisioned by patriotic men and women of goodwill in Nigeria.

    “President Jonathan also condemns the undue harassment of public officials serving under his administration and urges all affected persons to continue to perform their lawful duties without fear.

    “The President cautions that this should be a time for the healing of political wounds in the overriding interest of national unity, stability and progress, not a time for ethnic jingoism and the settling of scores.

    “The Federal Government will not condone any attempt to instigate a crisis in any part of the country in furtherance of personal political ambitions.

    “President Jonathan assures all Nigerians that his administration remains fully committed to national progress and the entrenchment of the best values of democracy for the good of all Nigerians.

    “He urges Nigerians to go out en-masse once again on April 11 to vote for candidates of their choice in the Governorship and State Assembly elections with the confidence that his administration will do all within its powers to ensure that they do so in peace, without threats, intimidation or violence from any quarters.”

     

  • Buhari assures of credible polls in Imo, Rivers, Edo

    Buhari assures of credible polls in Imo, Rivers, Edo

    The President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday assured of credible elections in the All Progressives Congress (APC) states of Imo, Rivers, Edo and others in the forthcoming governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    General Buhari who was in Owerri, the Imo State capital on a thank-you visit, said that he was aware of the travails of  Governors Rotimi Amaechi, Rochas Okorocha and Adams Oshiomhole during the last election.

    According to him, Oshiomole, Amaechi and Okorocha have shown uncommon courage and commitment in this system that has brought about this change and they should be commended.

    He said, “the vote of the people is their strength and if the people’s vote is allowed to count, they can vote out any government that does not meet their expectations and this is what the APC government stands for.”

    In his opening remarks, the APC National Chairman, Chief Odigie Oyegun, said that the leadership of the party was aware of the frustrations suffered by APC members during the Presidential election in Imo, Rivers and Edo States.

    He said that “we are aware of the frustrations and intimidation you suffered during the last election and that is why the President-elect decided to come here in his first outing since he was announced the President-elect. But I assure you that it will never happen again. You can go out on Saturday the 11 of April and vote for the APC candidates without fear”.

    Imo State Governor,Rochas Okorocha in his speech, said that Buhari’s victory has given the members of the APC a sense of relief, adding that their experience in the Presidential election was traumatising.

    He urged the President-elect to ensure that there is a level playing ground for Ndigbo in his administration, adding that they had suffered untold hardship and marginalisation under the outgoing administration.

    “We are in this struggle to better Nigeria, especially the Igbo nation and may I remind you that you are the President of all Nigerians and not the APC alone so your administration should carry everybody along,” he stated.