The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2015 poll

  • 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.”

     

     

  • 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.

  • 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.

     

     

  • Police foil bomb attack on Enugu polling unit

    The Police on Saturday foiled a bomb attack on a polling unit in Enugu State  just as voters go for accreditation in Saturday’s general election in the country.

    Details later…

     

  • 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.

     

  • Why I deserve Nigerians’ votes – Jonathan

    Why I deserve Nigerians’ votes – Jonathan

    … Chibok girls still alive – President

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday maintained that he deserves the votes of Nigerians because his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, has done well in many sectors in the last four years.

    He made the remark during an about one hour and 25 minutes interview on Kakaaki programme aired on the African Independent Television (AIT).

    Stressing that PDP still possesses the most formidable structure among the political parties in the country, the President said that he was not worried about the possible outcome of the forthcoming presidential election.

    He said: “I believe Nigerians should vote for me and I want Nigerians to vote for me because we have done well. Sometimes as a government we are busy working and we don’t advertise what we have done.”

    “Sometimes it appears not much (is done). Nigeria is a very big country. If you assess what we have done in a number of areas, we have done quite well and I believe that if Nigeria is linking up to where we were before and what we have done over these four years of government, they will want us to continue to make sure we at least complete some of the ongoing programmes.

    “We believe that in several areas, we have tried and we are working very well and if encouraged in the next four years, at least Nigeria will be able to stabilise in various sectors.

    “If Nigerians really know what we were before and what we did within these four years, then they will encourage us to at least continue for the next four years.”
    He noted that it was people from the PDP that gave the opposition the strength it currently enjoys, adding that if the PDP elements were to leave the opposition, they would crumble.

    President Jonathan added: “Even the opposition will tell you if they are realistic. Who has strengthened the opposition? Are they not the PDP elements? If you remove the PDP members from the opposition, they will just crumble like a pack of cards.

    “Why are people aggressive towards the PDP to the extent that even the presidential convoy is stoned? Why do you show that aggression? If you are comfortable, you will not do that.”

    On why his reelection for second term may be more difficult than the first term election, he said: “Globally, it is more challenging for a president to secure a second term than the first tenure because people get disappointed when their expectations are not quickly met by those they voted for.”

    Jonathan maintained that the increasing victory against the insurgents close to the election period was not political as the military just started receiving about 65 percent of the required equipment to fight the insurgents.

    He also assured that the schoolgirls abducted from Chibok, Borno State in April last year are still alive.

    According to him, the girls would be rescued alive.

    “The good story is that they have not killed them because when terrorists kill, they display so that they use it to intimidate the people in the society. So, these girls are alive. And so, we will get the girls. Luckily, we are narrowing down the areas of their control. So we will get them.” he stated.

     

  • Reps warn on alleged plots to remove Jega

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday warned President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration on the danger of removing the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, before the general election.

    Sequel to the adoption of a motion by Hon. Ali Ahmad, Chairman, House Committee on Justice, the House urged the political class, Federal Government and security agencies “to be wary of the imminent danger in the attempts to interfere with the electoral process.”

    The House said it will personally hold accountable at domestic judicial forum or at the International Criminal Court ” any person or organization that foists on INEC, any action whatsoever, including unconstitutional attempt to remove the commission chairman, that will make it impossible for elections to hold on March 28 and April 11 respectively.”

    While arguing the motion titled: “Motion on threat to further tamper with the status quo arrangements for the 2015 general elections,” Ahmad said the initial postponement of the general election for six weeks due to the security concerns has further heightened the tempo for pre- election violence.

     

  • 2015 polls: PDP, Fani-Kayode afraid of losing – APC chieftain

    A prominent member of the All Progressive Congress in Oyo State, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, on Monday lashed out at the Director of Media, Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode over his recent allegations against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu , describing him as a mole.

    Fani-Kayode in an attempt to disparage the opposition party, had attacked the Buhari/Osinbajo pairing, alleging that it was a plot by Tinubu to become President by proxy.

    But in his reaction to that statement, Ibikunle who is the Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Parastatals, said Fani-Kayode is never known for anything good all through his life.

    The APC chieftain, who expressed dismay over the recent conduct of Fani-Kayode, suggested that the former minister should be taking to a psychiatric home for thorough medical check to determine his sanity.

    “The APC ticket has come to stay. The combination of Buhari and Osinbajo remain the best to ensure change and bring back credibility, good governance, and development. The Peoples Democratic Party already know that there is no way out , so they result to destructive politics . But they will surely fail,” he said.