The Nation Newspaper

Category: Verdict 2015

Election in Nigeria 2015

  • DIG, four AIGs, seven CPs for polls in Abia, Imo, Taraba

    DIG, four AIGs, seven CPs for polls in Abia, Imo, Taraba

    The Nigeria Police have deployed Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), four Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), and seven Commissioners of Police for Saturday’s election in Abia, Imo and Taraba States.

    A statement Friday by the Force spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu said a DIG, an AIG and two Commissioners of Police had been deployed in Abia State.

    Similarly, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police and three Commissioners of Police are to oversee the election in Imo State.

    Two Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and two Deputy Commissioners of Police had been deployed in Taraba State for the same purpose.

    The police authorities however, did not disclose the identities of the officers so deployed.

    The police enjoined citizens in the affected states to remain vigilant and report all suspicious movements or dealings to appropriate the police authorities.

    The statement added: “As part of efforts to ensure adequate security, the Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Solomon E. Arase, has ordered restriction on vehicular movements in local government areas in Abia, Delta, Imo, Kogi and Taraba States where rerun of the ongoing general elections are scheduled to take place on Saturday, 25th of April, 2015 between the hours of 08.00am to 5.00pm.

    “This restriction of vehicular movements order affects movements in and out of the areas where the rerun elections are to take place, except for Ambulances, Fire Service Trucks and others on essential duties.

    “Consequently, travelers and citizens who intend to ply roads within those hours are advised to plan alternative routes.

    “The IGP also warns government officials and political office holders not to go to polling units with uniformed orderlies or aides, while persons who have no business with voting must not be found within 300 metres of a polling unit.

    “The police high command has also put adequate security measures in place by the deployments of additional senior officers to supervise security of elections in the states.”

  • Why PDP was defeated in polls – Bishop Kukah

    Why PDP was defeated in polls – Bishop Kukah

    The Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Mathew Hassan Kukah, on Friday blamed greed and arrogance as major reasons why the Peoples Democratic Party was defeated in the 2015 general election.

    He made this postulation in Abakaliki, Ebonyi, while delivering a convocation lecture at the Ebonyi State University.

    The title of the lecture was “Transition To Democracy: Can Nigeria Ride The Wave?”

    Kukah also identified lack of party cohesion, insensitivity to supporters and inability to control its stalwarts’ excesses as other reasons for the party’s failure.

    He, however, blamed these on the poor foundation of the party at its inception, maintaining that PDP “was really not a party and never worked hard to become a party.”

    He said: “Successful transitions are based on the typology of the transition. Was it negotiated as it was in South Africa or is it an emergency transition? I don’t believe we have a transition in Nigeria, because I followed the circumstances that brought in Gen.  Olusegun Obasanjo and I know the story pretty well.

    “But what we had was really an attempt at becoming a democracy. PDP has reaped the ill wind it sowed because clearly PDP was really not a party and it never worked hard to become a party. It became a distribution agency.

    “It is true that these elections could have swung either way. Many would argue that President Goodluck Jonathan and his PDP could have won the elections had they not succumbed to the hubris that has become the hallmark of the PDP. We all know the story of the peculiar circumstances that brought the party into being.

    “We also know that despite that, the party became an association of takers and buccaneers more than anything else. The party could not deal quickly with the issues of greed and arrogance of some of its men and women in power.

    “The party could not control the excesses of some of its ministers and henchmen/women. It simply saw itself as presiding over a distribution agency.”

  • Polls’ rerun: Vehicular movements restricted in Abia, others

    Polls’ rerun: Vehicular movements restricted in Abia, others

    The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, has ordered a restriction of vehicular movements in local government areas where re-run elections will be held in five states on Saturday.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu in Abuja on Friday.

    According to the statement, the order affects vehicular movements in local government areas in Abia, Imo, Delta, Kogi and Taraba states between 8am and 5pm, where the re-elections will be held.

    “This order affects movements in and out of the areas where the re-run elections are to take place, except for ambulances, fire service trucks and others on essential duties.

    “Consequently, travellers and citizens who intend to ply roads within those hours are advised to take alternative routes,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the police spokesman as saying in the statement.

    “The IGP warned government officials and political office holders not to go to polling units with uniformed orderlies or aides.

    “He also warned that persons who had no business with voting must not be found within 300 metres of a polling unit.

    Meanwhile, the IGP has deployed additional senior officers to supervise the elections in Abia, Imo and Taraba States.

    A breakdown shows that one DIG, one AIG and two Commissioners of Police would oversee the exercise in Abia, while one AIG and three Commissioners of Police would do same in Imo.

    Two AIGs and two Commissioners of Police are to supervise the elections in Taraba.

    The IGP advised the people of the affected areas to remain vigilant and report all suspicious movements or dealings to the police.

  • Inconclusive Delta senatorial polls hold Saturday

    The Independent National Elections Commission in Delta State said it will conduct elections in 56 wards and 803 polling units in Delta Central Senatorial District on Saturday after earlier elections were declared inconclusive.

    Elections in these wards and units were declared inconclusive by the electoral umpire on March 28 following allegations of irregularities.

    The INEC’s Head, Voter Education and Publicity in the state, James Popoola , said the commission will conduct elections in Ethiope East (11) wards, (157 polling units) ,Ethiope West (2 wards ,4 polling units), Okpe (8 wards,106 polling units) ,Udu (8 wards ,97 polling units) , and Ughelli North (9 wards, 178 polling units).

    Others include Ughelli South (5wards, 31 polling units), Sapele (5wards, 136 polling units), and Uvwie (8wards, 97 polling units).

    He said the commission shifted the elections to April 25 because of inadequate electoral materials, adding that materials had been distributed to all INEC offices at the affected local government headquarters.

     

  • PDP: We’re regrouping to takeover power in 2019

    PDP: We’re regrouping to takeover power in 2019

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to bounce back to power in 2019.

    National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu, who yesterday spoke to reporters in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, he was in Taraba  to thank Governor Danbaba Suntai and his deputy Abubakar Sani Danladi for their efforts in the 2015 general elections.

    He said the party, like President Goodluck Jonathan, has accepted defeat in good faith, “but we shall work very hard, remain resolute, restructure and reposition the PDP and regroup members to regain our position of the ruling party in the next general election”.

    Mu’azu described PDP members defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the party’s loss as “untrue democrats and insincere politicians”.

    He said APC was “dragging” with PDP to take everything and make Nigeria a one-party nation. He advised the APC to give room for credible opposition, without suppressing the will of the people in its bid to be in control everywhere because that, according to Muazu, would not augur well for the nation’s democratic experience.

    He said: “APC is propagating negatively; they want to take everything, but we have resolved, as a party, to restructure and take over power in the next general elections.

    “Whatever it takes, we have resolved to ensure that we forgive one another, resolve our differences and forge ahead, with efforts to winning elections come 2019.

    “It is, however, very unfortunate that our supporters who are desperate to defect to APC have become confused because they have been rejected by the APC. I don’t know what would become of their faith, because they now have no roof; they are neither in PDP nor in APC.”

    The PDP boss said its candidate in Taraba, Darius Dickson Ishaku, is too credibly qualified to lose the election.

    “We are here to encourage our supporters to continue their loyalty and good work for our great party. Everybody knows that Taraba is for PDP and PDP is for Taraba. We have been in charge in Taraba for the past 16 years.”

    Mu’azu accused the APC in the state of “negative media propaganda” against the PDP.

    He praised the “courage and magnanimity” of President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat to General Muhammadu Buhari, as he urged APC supporters to also learn how to concede defeat when they lose.

  • Party member challenges PDP Reps-elect candidacy

    Party member challenges PDP Reps-elect candidacy

    A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state, Tele Ogunjobi, has approached a state High Court sitting in Ijebu – Ode to challenge the candidacy of a Federal House Representatives – elect, Prince Segun Adekoya.

    Ogunjobi, former Chairman of Ijebu North Local Government Council, had aspired to run for the seat ofthe Ogun Waterside, Ijebu North and Ijebu East Federal constituency in the last March 28 National Assembly elections but the ticket, in a curious twist, went to Adekoya.

    Ogunjobi in a motion filed by his lawyers Ayo Alagbe and T.M Otayemi before Justice S.A Olugbemi in Ijebu – Ode, claimed that  he won the PDP primary election held at the Ogbere town hall last December 6 having scored 33 votes while Adekoya polled 32 votes.

    According to the plaintiff, having contested the seat at the primary with eight others and emerged winner with 33 votes while Adekoya, came second with 32 votes, the PDP Returning Officer declared him winner and returned him as validly elected party candidate for the  House of Representatives candidate for Ogun Waterside, Ijebu North and Ijebu East Federal Constituency.

    Also dragged to Court along with the House of Representatives – elect, Adekoya, are the Ogun state PDP and the state Chairman, Adebayo Dayo, alleging that they snatched the mandate given to him during the primary election which he won and gave it to Adekoya.

    He also informed the court that his name was equally submitted as the elected candidate and also forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    According to him,  the court action became necessary because his mandate was unlawfully given to Adekoya, who was subsequently declared winner during the March 28 National Assembly polls.

    He prayed the Court to help him retrieve his mandate,  declare him the candidate of PDP for the Federal House of Representatives for his constituency, and by extension the right beneficiary of the PDP victory in the March 28 National Assembly polls for Ijebu North, Ijebu East and Ogun Waterside.

  • APC wins Orhionmwon South Constituency seat in Edo

    APC wins Orhionmwon South Constituency seat in Edo

    The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), has declared Mr Roland Asoro of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the rescheduled Edo House of Assembly election for Orhionmhwon South Constituency seat.

    Mr Olowu Owin, the Returning Officer for the election, announced the result on Sunday in Orhionmwon.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that INEC declared the April 11 State House of Assembly election inconclusive in 12 units in 4 wards.

    According to Owin, Asoro of APC won the election that took place on April 18 with 11, 486 votes, to defeat Mr Friday Ogierake of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) who polled 8, 640 votes.

    NAN further reports that the PDP candidate pulled out of the contest before the April 18 election.

  • Re-run election: Voting ends in Nasarawa State

    Re-run election: Voting ends in Nasarawa State

    Voting in the re-run election in Lafia/Obi Federal Constituency, Ciroma Ward of Lafia Local Government Area in Nasarawa State has ended and collation of results ongoing.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia reports that some of the polling units in Ciroma ward had concluded voting.

    The other areas were voting had been concluded were Agwan Tiv and Kofar Malam Saidani, Baban Kaka, Donkiyari, Mamman Yaro, Damburam and Ciroma 2 polling units.

    NAN reports that the polling officials were seen counting the votes, while the voters wait to hear the results.

    One of the voters, Mr Umar Yahaya, told NAN at Baban Kaka polling unit that voters at the polling unit decided to stay back to ensure that nobody was cheated.

    “We don’t want to leave because if we do, anything can happen. At least it is better that it has ended early, now they can count in front of us,’’ Yahaya said.

    Another voter at Agwan Tiv, Mr Shehu Daudu, attributed the early conclusion of voting to early accreditation.

    “From this morning till now, there has been no problem. Nobody has come here to cause any problem, that is the reason it went smoothly,’’ he said.

    NAN also reports that turnout was impressive and many voters turned out to vote for candidates of their choice.

  • INEC reshedules bye-elections in Kogi

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it was moving the date for the conduct of supplementary Federal and State Constituency elections forward from May 2nd to April 25th.

    The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Kogi State in a release on Thursday in Lokoja said the decision was based on a policy statement that all elections be concluded 30 days before the handing over date.

    The release which was signed by Adison Mailafiya on behalf of the REC, Prof. Jacob Jatau said supplementary Federal and State Constituency Elections earlier scheduled for 2nd May, 2015 have been rescheduled for Saturday 25th April, 2015 in affected polling units.

  • Imo: REC under fire over fresh PVC distribution

    Imo: REC under fire over fresh PVC distribution

    There was renewed call Thursday for the immediate redeployment of the Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Dr. Gabriel Ada by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other stakeholders in the state before the governorship rerun election scheduled for April 25.

    The REC has also come under fire for insisting that registered voters who have not collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) in the areas where the governorship rerun election will hold in the state, despite the expiration of the deadline for the collection of PVC  nationwide.

    Ada had during a press briefing with journalists, refused to disclose the number of PVC distributed in the 200 Polling Units where the rescheduled election will hold, as well as the number of registered voters in the area.

    Reacting to the REC’s alleged partisan role, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Rochas Campaign Organization, called for his immediate redeployment ahead of the rerun election to ensure a free and fair polls.

    The Director General of the Campaign Organization, Barr Ihekwumere Alaribe, said that “we were shocked to learn that the REC had announced that the collection of PVC is still ongoing in the state, even after the expiration of the exercise nationwide. This will amount to shifting the goal post in the middle of the game.”

    According to him, “we have applied for the number of registered voters and the list of the distribution of PVC in the affected areas but the REC had refused to disclose the documents because of his partisan stand”.

    Justifying the call for Ada’s immediate redeployment, Alaribe, alleged that he was selective in the cancellation of the results of the governorship election in the favour of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), adding that the APC and the entire people of the state do no longer have confidence in him to supervise the rerun election.

    He said, “we have discovered that the REC inflated the number of voters in the areas where election did not hold, to justify the rerun election. He is an interested party and should not be allowed to supervise the election. As a former Speaker of the Cross River House of Assembly under the PDP we doubt his integrity and neutrality in this matter.

    “We are calling on the Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega to immediately recall Ada from Imo State before the scheduled rerun to ensure a free and fair election. Because if not for his partisan role, we won’t be talking about rerun in an election we clearly won. We have discovered that he is a card carrying member of the PDP and must to not be allowed to preside over the election”.

    Also knocking the REC for his controversial positions, an APC Chieftain, Chief Romanus Egbuladike, blamed him for the massive rigging and other irregularities that marred the governorship election.

    Egbuladike, who is from Oru East Local Government Area, which has the highest number of areas where the rerun election will hold, said that elections were held in the six wards where INEC cancelled to pave way for a supplementary election.

    In his words, “we were shocked that INEC said that election did not hold in six wards in Oru East because we have the results from the booth. I think what happened was because did people did not allow INEC to execute their plan of rigging the election in Oru East in favour of the PDP so they decided to cancel six wards to declare the election inconclusive but whatever they are planning will be resisted.”