The Nation Newspaper

Category: Verdict 2015

Election in Nigeria 2015

  • 2015: No chaos, violence in Kebbi

    The ongoing electoral is peaceful in Kebbi State.

    A visit to most polling units in Birnin-Kebbi, the state capital, showed voter’s in queues and being accredited.

    It was however observed that electoral materials arrived late in some polling units.

    The card readers were largely effective at the polling units visited, while few voters whose thumb print could not be authenticated were promptly made to fill the incident forms and accredited.

    The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State, Senator Atiku Bagudu, his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Gen. Bello Sarkin Yaki and the former Acting National Chairman of the PDP and Minister of Defence , Dr. Haliru Mohammed Bello, all commended the orderly conduct of voters at the polling units.

    They called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to correct the observed lapses and ensure that all those who turned up at the polling units are able to cast their votes.

    Senator Bagudu and Dr. Bello were accredited at the Garkar Mai Alelu and Nasarawa I Polling Units respectively.

    Sarkin Yaki was accredited at the Zannan Gwandu model Primary school.

  • Sultan accredited in Sokoto

    Sultan accredited in Sokoto

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar was on Saturday accredited at 12:30pm at a polling unit in front of his palace in the state.

    The accreditation was hitch-free at his unit in Rumfan Sarkin Muslumi polling unit.

    The exercise commenced as early as 8:30am with the would -be voters queuing up in two male and female lines to quicken the process.

    The card reader in the polling booth was free of complaints, although it was evident that it caused a little delay as the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) official were  yet to master it.

    Earlier, Senator Mohammed Maccido , who apparently paid a visit to the monarch, expressed satisfaction with the voters’ turn out for accreditation and voting  afterwards.

    He noted that “the people of the state are elated and looking forward to this day.”

    “As you can see the lines are full already. Our people are anxious to vote, “he stated.

    On his chances at the poll, the lawmaker said,”I am very optimistic. I don’t start the fight that I cannot finish.”

     

     

  • IBB, Abdulsalami, Bello call for peace

    …….‎Card Reader is Unnecessary – Aliyu

    Three former military leaders have urged Nigerians to embrace peace and accept the results of the election.
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    Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida after accreditation at his Uphill polling unit in Minna, Niger State capital said that the people should be peaceful as violence is not worth it.

    He hoped the election would be peaceful urging the people to accept whatever result the electoral body announces.

    Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar also called on the people to go about electioneering peacefully . “Without peace, development cannot be achieved. D people should be peaceful. For democracy to strive, they should embrace peace.”

    Former military governor of old Kano State, Colonel Sani Bello also expressed optimism that the country will experience a  post-election violence.

    He told newsmen after he was accredited at Alkali Mustapha unit in Kontagora that the peace accord signed by the two leading Presidential candidates and other political party leaders will work.

    According to him, “With the peaceful conduct of the exercise, the cordial conduct of the electoral officers and orderliness of the people are all indication that we all have agreed to ensure that the peace accord works. I strongly believe the post-election will be peaceful”.

    Niger state Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu while commending the electoral process said the use of the Smart Card Reader machine was an unnecessary issue adding that he did not see the value of the card reader for the election.

    ‎According to him, “Out of my 10 fingers, only one was caught but I had to go through all the ten fingers. I don’t know the value this might have added to this election.

    “I have my PVC, there is a picture of me in the papers and I believe with all the agents of all the parties here, this might just be an unnecessary issue.”

  • Obasanjo, Amosun, wife accredited in Ogun

    Obasanjo, Amosun, wife accredited in Ogun

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ogun State governor; Ibikunle Amosun and his wife, Olufunso Amosun, had their accreditation exercise in Abeokuta, the state capital, on Saturday.

    While Obasanjo was accredited at the his ward 11, polling unit 22 located in Oke – Sokori near his Ita – Eko home in Abeokuta North local government area of the state, Amosun and his wife had theirs at the Ajura 1 polling unit at St John’s School, Ajura, in Obafemi Owode LGA.

    Speaking with reporters shortly after his accreditation, Obasanjo said the exercise went smoothly, but complained that some people will not vote due to non-availability of their voter cards.

    Obasanjo said: “it is a constitutional issue and every four years whether for all elective officers in Nigeria, we must go through this ritual. What I have gone through is very okay, they checked my card, my finger print and they said it was okay and that I should come back and vote.”

    On voter’s card, the former President said: “some people have not collected the card, but at this hour there is nothing much anybody can do. What we do hope is that the election that will come two weeks now maybe those without cards now will have their cards then.

    “Unfortunately, these people will be disenfranchised from this election but this should not cause political violence, they should be patient INEC is doing its best, but maybe at times, water dey pass garri and when when water pass garri, you take it coolly and then expect the best from what you have.”

    Amosun said the technology is slightly slow, adding if that is what is required to give the country free, fair and transparent polls, Nigerians should endure the pain and accept the new development.

     

  • Fashola accredited, calls for patience with INEC

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, was accredited at about 10:50am at the Ward G-3, State Senior Grammar School, Itolo Street, Surulere, on Saturday, with an appeal to Nigerians to exercise patience with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in order to ensure a smooth process.

    Fashola, who was accompanied by his wife – Dame Abimbola and his son, Ademola‎ arrived his polling unit at about 10:30am.

    Addressing journalists after his accreditation, the governor said the process has so far not recorded any incident of card reader malfunctioning.

    He said, “‎I think from my experience, things are heading in the right direction. People are orderly.

    I’ve been here for about 16 minutes, it took me about two minutes to do my accreditation. My right thumb failed, but my left thumb passed the card reader verification. I think we should patient with the process and ensure we get it right this time.”

    On reports of a few hitches in some areas, the governor said, “I haven’t heard anything that should heighten any fear.”

    It was observed that accreditation process started at about 9:00am but the voters were already at the polling units as early as 7:30am.

    The process was seamless, although there were pockets of card verification problems encountered by some voters.

  • INEC battles to restore website

    INEC battles to restore website

    Computer engineers from the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) are battling to re-host the commission’s website that was hacked into earlier on Saturday by a group that called itself Nigerian Cyber Army/Team.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Mr.Kayode Idowu, said the message posted on the website by the hackers has been taken down preparatory to the re-hosting of the website.

    A short message by INEC on the website said: “We will be back soon!

    “Sorry for the inconvenience but we are performing some maintenance at the moment. We will be back online shortly! Site should be back up soon.”

    The hacking occurred midway into the accreditation of voters for Saturday’s elections.

    The hackers posted the following on the website: “StruCk By Nigerian Cyber Army | TeaM NCA.”

    “Sorry xD Your Site has been STAMPED by TeaM Nigerian Cyber Army FEEL SOME SHAME ADMIN!!”

    “Security is just an illusion, Remember US :DGREETINGS OF PEACE TO CITIZEN OF NIGERIA FROM TEAM NCA NIGERIANS No Body Can Give You Freedom No Body Can Give You Equality Or Justice If You Are A Man/Woman YOU TAKE IT.”

     

  • Mixed reactions trail voters’ accreditation in Benue

    Accreditation began in most polling units visited in Makurdi, Benue State, as early as 9:00am on Saturday, while some did not commence until about 10:00am.

    There were no sign of military personnel on the streets in the state capital.

    The atmosphere was calm with voters conducting themselves in orderly manner in most polling units visited.

    However, the card reader caused problems in some units as the machine rejected several Permanent Voter Cards in the affected units.

    Some electoral officers also proffered solutions to these problems, suggesting application of methylated spirit on fingers.

    Others used water to clean the fingers instead.

    The electoral officer at a unit near the police headquarters, said several things may be responsible for the rejection of voter’s finger print by the machine.

    “It’s been a couple of years since the registration was done and something may have happened to the thumbs but we have recorded many successes.

    However, it was a smooth process at Mopol polling unit, although the exercise commenced with a flat card reader battery.

    A polling agent said a voter released his generating set for them to charge the machine

     

     

  • Large turnout at IDPS camps in Borno, Yobe

    Large turnout at IDPS camps in Borno, Yobe

    Thousands of internally displaced people in Yobe and Borno States filled out early Saturday morning to be accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission officials for the elections.

    In Borno, about 70, 000 IDPs are expected to vote in the state capital in camps situated in the metropolis.

    Voting will take place in at least 16 local government areas, according to the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Samuel Madaki.

    Our correspondent, who was at some of the voting centres at the IDPs camps in Maiduguri metropolis, saw a large turn of voters on queues waiting to be accredited by INEC officials.

    Our correspondent visited the Government College Maiduguri camp, NYSC camps for Bama IDPs and Yerwa where the people had problems with the card reader.

    The state’s Governor,  Kashim Shettima, was accredited at his Shettimari 1 polling unit, Lawan Bukar ward, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.

    In Polo Area of Maiduguri, only 10 people out of 100 eligible voters were recognized by the card reader at the Mohammed Maina polling unit 069.

    In Yobe, there were also impressive turnouts at the designated voting centres across the state.

    Governor Ibrahim Gaidam who travelled to his Bukarti home town was accredited at the Bukar Primary School.

    The state’s former governor, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, was accredited at the IDPs voting camp in Damaturu.

     

     

  • Lagos: Slight itches mar election materials’ distribution

    There were slight hitches in the distribution of electoral materials at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Lagos. As at 9:00am on Saturday morning, electoral materials were yet to be distributed.

    An INEC official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, attributed the development to the refusal of ad hoc drivers who were contracted through the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to work due lack of adequate fuel for their vehicles.

    He, however, assured that the problem would be properly addressed.

     

     

  • APC will inherit a basket economy if we win – Fayemi

    APC will inherit a basket economy if we win – Fayemi

    Former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said if the All Progressive Congress wins Saturday’s presidential election, it will inherit a basket economy.

    He, however, said the party has the creativity to rebound the economy.

    Fayemi said:”Our agenda for change is not hidden. We have the 2015 manifesto which is a product of research and travel across the length and breadth of the country. That is how we came about our strong focus on security, economy and corruption.

    “Everywhere we went this was an issue that resonated and the way to address it is to help lift the vulnerable. We will reduce inequality between the rich and the poor, so that the resources no matter how limited can be spread widely among our population.

    “Whether you talk of our free meal a day in school or social security benefits for the indigent or free health programme, we are strongly focused about these plans. We are not pretending, there are no challenges or the resources are available, we are going to inherit a basket economy.

    “If by God’s grace, Nigerians give us the mandate to rule, we will meet empty treasury, a debt ridden country and it will require a great deal of creativity and innovation on our part to plug all the leakages.

    “So put in place incentives that would unleash the creative abilities of our people, so we can generate more jobs and wealth for the populace.”