The Nation Newspaper

Category: Verdict 2015

Election in Nigeria 2015

  • Jonathan to Nigerians: Be patient with INEC

    Jonathan to Nigerians: Be patient with INEC

    I’ve not spoken to Buhari – President

    President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians to be patient with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should there be hitches during the polls.

    He spoke in his hometown Otuoke after the card readers failed to verify his Permanent Voter’s Card and that of his wife, Patience.

    Jonathan said he was yet to call his major challenger, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, but that he would do so soon.

    Addressing reporters after leaving Unit 39 in Ogbia Ward 13, the President said since the use of card readers was new, hitches is inevitable.

    He said: “There may be hitches, no doubt about that, because this is the first time we’re using this technology of Permanent Voters Card and Card Readers.

    “I just spoke with INEC chairman, and I wanted to know what is happening across the country.

    “President Jonathan is just one voter. So even if we have problem with my own card, as long as nationally, the process is going on well, definitely they will sort out my own. I can’t be a ghost voter, everybody knows me.”

    Asked if he was concerned after not being accredited, Jonathan said he was calm.

    “I’m not worried, no, no,” he said.

    Asked what could happen if the election is inconclusive, he said: “There may be a delay, but I cannot speak for INEC.

    “But my interest is that we conduct credible elections, peaceful elections. We’re totally committed to that.

    “And I believe that no matter the hitches we might experience in some places – I received information that there are some states that voters cards are not there, like Jigawa, I think there are about seven federal constituencies that election may be delayed, becuase for the House of Reps, no voters cards.

    “I’ve also gotten some reports from Edo, Esan West or so, affecting the House of Reps, but not the general elections.

    “In my own polling unit, some of the cards are going through, but my own and that of my wife, we have some problems. But they’re sorting them out.

    “My conviction is that the elections will go on smoothly. If I can endure – you can see me sweating, then I plead with all Nigerians to be patient.

    “No matter the pains we take, as long as we as a nation can conduct free and fair elections that the world will accept, that is what we should all think about, not the temporary pains individuals may pass through.

    “Nigerian election is one the whole world is interested in. Some heads of government have spoken to me, wishing us well.

    “President Obama even addressed his media about the Nigerian elections. I got a letter a letter from Prime Minister David Cameron encouraging the country to go on with peaceful elections.

    “I spoke with the President of Ghana; of course Ouattara of Court D’Ivoire, Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Botswana President, that of Sierra Leone and a number of them, everybody calling to wish our country well.

    “Any sacrifice is worth making. I encourage Nigerians to be patient with INEC.

    “If you have Card Reader problem please don’t go riotious, don’t instigate crisis. Wait patiently.

    “Those who their cards go through should go through the process. Everybody will vote because there are ad hoc arrangements where if a card reader has some issues and it can be verified that you’re not a fake person, I believe you will be allowed to vote.”

    On reports about soldiers being overzealous in some places by preventing voters to go to their units, the President said: “What you’re telling me may not be actually correct. You know that there are guidelines about movement.

    “We normally close our international borders two days to the election because of infiltration of miscreants who can be brought from neighboring countries to disrupt elections.

    “Within the country, from 12midnight Friday, movement is supposed to be highly restricted. It’s only people like you that have clear cards that can move. For ordinary people, the movement is highly restricted.

    “So, people should not just come up with spurious statements. Why were they not near their polling stations as at yesterday? I have to verify the claims. I can’t make a valid statement now until I get clearance from the army. The commander of the JTF is even around.”

    On whether he has spoken to Buhari, he said: “We’ve not spoken. Maybe I’ll call him after this time.”

     

     

  • I have faith in the electoral process – Senator Tinubu

    I have faith in the electoral process – Senator Tinubu

    Despite standing for over two hours, awaiting the arrival of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials to commence accreditation of voters for the presidential and national assembly elections, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said she still has faith in the electoral process.

    Tinubu, the incumbent Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, got to her 034 polling unit along Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, at about 7:55am and expressed her displeasure at the lateness of the INEC officials.

    “You can see that we are ready.  The people have been standing here since morning waiting for INEC to commence the process but we have not seen them yet.

    “But I am hopeful and still believe in the process because I know my people are enlightened and they will wait patiently and exercise their rights.

    “The system is not working and by God’s grace Nigeria will be where it’s supposed to be with this election. It is a shame and the world is watching us.

    “But I still have faith in the credibility of the process because I know the people will do the right things so that at the end of the day, the election will be acceptable to all.

    “I am really not surprised at the delay because it was expected. Obviously INEC is ready only on paper. Practically they are not ready.  It is a good thing that the people are here and have remained orderly. If the voters were not on ground,  they would have said it is slow start but we will wait,” she said.

    Although the voters are not riotous,  people have become agitated and disgruntled over their long wait without INEC staff to kick start the process.

    As at the time of filing this report at about 10:53am, no INEC official had come to the polling unit. Even security agents attached to the unit have become apprehensive over the almost three hours delay.

    One Elijah Adeniyi, who said he came to the polling unit at exactly 8:00am, described the delay as uncalled for. He lambasted INEC for not providing better facility for its personnel close to the polling units, wondering what the situation would be in rural areas if it was so flawed in the city.

    Shittu Daud, who said he was ready to stand till 12 midnight to vote, said no amount of delay would frustrate him from achieving that goal.

     

  • 2015 polls: Large voters’ turnout, peaceful conduct in Sokoto

    As early as 7am, combined security check points were mounted by the Nigerian  Army, Civil Defence Corps,  Nigeria Air Force, the Federal Road Safety Commission officials and the police at strategic locations within the state capital and roads leading outside the state.

    The peaceful conduct of the election has laid to rest the fear of violence in the most contentious poll ever conducted in the country.

    At Takatuku/Madorawa ward, in Bodinga local government area of the state, voters had already filed out peacefully and in orderly manner for accreditation at Model primary school, Takatuku polling unit 003 under the watchful eyes of security agents.

    However, by 8:10am, some ad hoc staff were yet to collect election materials at the Takatuku ward distribution centre just as a some staff and security agents deployed could not locate their location.

    The Supervising Polling Officer, Malam Hassan, who spoke to a group of journalists monitoring the exercise, said that the reason for the delay was absence of transportation to convey them to their respective polling units.

    “But we are sorting things out. I have just finished with some teams now and they have confirmed reaching their polling units,” he told journalists.

     

  • Exercise peaceful in Osun

    The presidential and the National Assembly elections started on a peaceful note in Osun State.

    Voters stated coming out for accreditation as early as 7:00am in many parts of the state.

    The turnout was impressive and voters conducted themselves in orderly manner.

    There was no complain of electoral materials’ shortage ‎in polling booths visited by our correspondent.

    However, the card reader malfunctioned in the only polling booth in Eripa in Boripe Local Government.

    The Assistant Presiding Officer in Ward 3, unit 9, Fekete, Ikirun, Sheriff Iwaloye, said there were 633 registered voters in the unit.‎

    However, a man, Yomi Ademola, was killed by unknown gunmen on Friday night in Ikirun, the headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State.

    The deceased was ‎said to have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

     

  • Massive voters’ turn out in Niger

    Presidential and National Assembly elections in Niger State took off at exactly 8:00am in most polling stations in the state.

    However, elections will not take place in 20 polling units in six local government areas of the state due to voters’ missing data in the affected units.

    Voters’ turn out was impressive in Minna, the state capital, while Bida, Suleja, Lapai, Mokwa and Kontagora  also recorded early and massive turn out of voters.

    Electoral officers were also at their duty posts, but there were pockets of malfunctioning card readers in some units in Minna, Suleja, New Wuse and Bida.

     

  • APC chieftain’s house razed in Akwa Ibom

    Eight days after suspected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs killed the former deputy speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Okon Uwah, the house of another All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Essien Udim State Constituency, Mrs. Alice Thomson, was set ablaze by thugs suspected to be PDP members.

    Johnson’s house was razed while she was attending an APC rally in Abak.

    APC in a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Committee said the incident showed that the state has descended into anarchy.

    The party said: “Two other houses belonging to her supporters in the Ikot Ineme constituency were also destroyed in the arson by PDP thugs.

    “The burning of Mrs. Thomson’s house came eight days after Rt. Hon. Okon Uwah, APC candidate for Ukanafun state constituency in the coming election and former deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly was assassinated by PDP thugs.

    “In the last one month there have been more than three bloody attacks against APC members and as many acts of arson directed at their economic interest by PDP thugs.

    “In early March, two separate bloody attacks against supporters of APC happened in ward 7 at Anua in Uyo with two near fatalities.

    “Essien Udim, which Mrs. Thomson seeks to represent in the state House of Assembly on the platform of the APC, is the local government of Governor Godswill Akpabio.

    “The renewed reign of terror in the state followed the most bellicose and inciting statements from leaders of the PDP in the state directed against members of the APC. Many of the statements have called for death or harm to those who are opposed to the PDP.”

    When contacted, the Akwa Ibom State Police Commissioner, Gabriel Achong, said he was not aware of the development.

     

  • I like the integrity of the system – Buhari

    I like the integrity of the system – Buhari

  • Voting materials arrive Jonathan’s unit

    Voting materials have arrived the polling unit where President Good Jonathan will vote.

    The materials were brought to the unit in Ogbia Ward 12 by 8.24am.

    There are two polling units in Otuoke, one directly across the President’s country home.

    As at 9am, electoral officers were still sorting out and arranging the materials.

    Even before the materials arrived, journalists, including foreign media, had arrived the venue, awaiting the electoral officers’ arrival.

    No fewer than 50 journalists are in Otuoke to cover President Jonathan’s voting.

    Everyone is now waiting for accreditation to begin and for the President to come our for accreditation.

    Security agents, include men and women of the Department of State Security (DSS), police and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) are guarding the unit.

  • Most searched for Presidential candidate

    Most searched for Presidential candidate

    Based on searches conducted on google.com.ng from January 1 2015 to March 27, 2015
    Based on searches conducted on google.com.ng from January 1 2015 to March 27, 2015
  • APC Scandinavia calls for peaceful election

    APC Scandinavia calls for peaceful election

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) chapter in Scandinavia has urged Nigerians to give peace a place in all activities as the much anticipated Presidential election holds today.

    According to a statement made available by Kenneth Oguzie, Secretary, APC Scandinavia, “As a major event in the history of Nigeria unfolds in less than 24 hours, it is imperative that all stakeholders reach out to various groups and call for a peaceful, free and fair election.”

    It further noted that the 2015 election is a very symbolic one as it heralds a new dawn and is an opportunity for Nigerians to break free from the shackles of the ruling party, who have brought this country to ground zero and would lead us to catastrophe if allowed to rule for a single more day.

    “As the Diaspora arm of a party committed to peace and dialogue, APC Scandinavia urges all supporters to conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner and we condemn any sort of violence, intimidation and disorderly conduct from our members or that of the ruling party.

    “We have come a long way and stakes are high in this election, as the largest economy in Africa, one of the top ten producers of oil globally and the most populous black Nation in the world, it is our responsibility to ensure we live up to the expectations of the International community.

    “Dear citizens, we urge you to vote en masse for General Muhammadu Buhari and do the same for all APC candidates contesting for various arms of Government in a few weeks time.

    “The time for change has come and we are privileged to be major actors and decision makers. Exercise your franchise, go out and vote and stay safe in general.

    “Let us cruise to victory and let us take our country to where it ought to be,” the statement read.