The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2015 polls

  • Accreditation begins on time in Kebbi, Kaduna

    Accreditation begins on time in Kebbi, Kaduna

    Accreditation of voters commenced on time in parts of Kebbi and Kaduna states following early arrival of election officials.

    The officials were mostly at their polling units by 7:30 am and accreditation started by 8 am.

    In Kebbi the turnout of voters was far lower than what was witnessed during the presidential polls on March 28.

    In Kaduna however voters turnout was generally impressive.

    NAN reports that accreditation started as early as 8am in most polling units of Argungu Local Government in Kebbi.

    Some of the polling units visited in Argungu include Alwasa, Asarara, Gotomo, Race course, Sarki Sani Model Primary School, Garkan Danmaliki and Kitarawa 4.

    The situation was similar in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, where election officials were out as early as 7:30am and accreditation commenced on time.

    Some of the areas visited included Garkan Maialelu,Joda one and two, Nasarawa one and two, Gulumbe, Badariya polling units among others.

    In all the places visited security personnel were present and the streets were empty of vehicular movement.

    In Kaduna metropolis, Kafanchan, Zaria and Birnin Gwari the accreditation of voters also commenced on time with large turnout of voters.

    At Kafanchan A and B, Garaje, Maigizo and Mabushi polling units where the process started peacefully, voters turnout was impressive.

    In Kaduna, voters in long queues were being accredited in most polling units including Unguwan Liman, Burji, LEA Katsina Road, Ori Akpata, Shaba, Alimi, Alkali Road in Ungwan Sarki and Jemaa Road in Ungwan Rimi.

    In Zaria accreditation also started on time with large turnout of voters in Gyallesu, Kwarbai, Kofar Kona, Tudun Wada and other polling units in the area.

  • Buhari accredited, express satisfaction

    Buhari accredited, express satisfaction

    President Elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and his wife Aisha were accredited to vote at the Governorship and House of Assembly election at his Sarkin Yara A, in Kafar Baru ward 3 in Daura local government at about 8.30 am.

    Buhari and his wife were accredited in less than five minutes and expressed satisfaction with the process adopted by the commission.

    He told newsmen that the experience is an indication that INEC has improved on the card reader process considering the fast nature of the accreditation.

    The Nation observed a lower voter turn-out compared to the turn during the Presidential election.

  • Bayelsa: INEC shifts elections in eight constituencies

    Bayelsa: INEC shifts elections in eight constituencies

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rescheduled the House of Assembly elections in eight out of the 24 constituencies of Bayelsa State.

    The affected constituencies will hold their elections on April 18.

    The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Baritor Kpagih, said in a statement on Friday that the affected councils are Ekeremor Constituencies 1, 2, and 3, Kolokuma/Opokuma Constituencies 1 and 2, Sagbama Constituencies 1 and 2 and Southern Ijaw Constituency 1.

    But Kpagih said that the election would hold as scheduled in the other 16 constituencies on Saturday

    He, however, stated that the election was shifted because of the position of stakeholders that election should not hold ‘without full complements of the ballot papers.’

    He said: “Following the stand of the stakeholders ‎ that no election should take place in the State without full complement of ballot papers, having regard to the total PVC distributed, the State House of Assembly election slated for Saturday, the 11th of April, 2015, in Bayelsa State has been rescheduled to Saturday the 18th day of April, 2015 in the following constituencies…”

    It was gathered that the political parties and their candidates insisted on the postponement because of irregularities ‎in the ballot papers for the constituencies.

    It was further learnt that the number of ballot papers sent to the constituencies was inadequate.

    INEC was said to have sent only 13,000 ballot papers out of 27000 to Southern Ijaw Constituency.

    Also, it was learnt that 5000 ballot papers were available at the headquarters of the Ekeremor ‎Constituency 3, instead of 15,000 ballot papers.

  • Police impose curfew on Adamawa after elections

    In an attempt to forestall a breakdown of law and order, the Adamawa state Police Command, has imposed dusk to dawn curfew on the State beginning from Sunday, the 12 of April 2015.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Gabriel Adaji made the announcement while briefing newsmen in his office Friday in Yola as preparatory to Saturday’s Governorship and state Assembly elections.

    But political parties have reacted sharply to the development, insisting that it was wrong to impose curfew when collation of results were yet on-going.

    The police command’s action, it was learnt has generated tension among candidates and the political parties standing elections this Saturday.

    The police Commissioner who announced that the curfew would run between 12th and 14th of the month beginning at 6 Pm to 6am, however, said there was no reason for anybody or political parties involved in the election to entertain any fear.

    He said the measure is to ensure peaceful and orderly conduct of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections in the state and forestall attempts by anyone to breach the peace even after the elections, especially while celebrating party victory.

    “After the last presidential and National Assembly elections, we had some nasty and ugly experiences in the state, hence the present measures,” Adaji explained

    The police Boss also announced the ban of Keke Napep, wheel barrow, truck-pushers and any other hawking materials and moveable objects, warning that the law will take it cause on any person or group who violates the order.

    Adaji lauded the people of the state, especially politicians for their peaceful and orderly conducts during the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    However, some political parties in the state have reacted sharply to the imposition of curfew, particularly as collation of results of the election are suppose to be on- going.

    The publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ahmed Lawal said the party does not see reason why curfew should be imposed on the state if there is peaceful election.

    Lawal said the police should review the matter in the interest of all parties involved in the election.

  • INEC equips ad hoc staff with life jackets

    INEC equips ad hoc staff with life jackets

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday said more than 300 life jackets had been provided for ad hoc staff posted to the riverine communities in Epe for Saturday elections.

    Mr Okpighe Henry, the INEC Electoral Officer in Epe, Lagos State, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Henry said that the commission had also made provision for quality canoes and flying boats to convey the workers on election duties to the riverine areas.

    The electoral officer also said that adequate arrangements had also been made with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for the transportation of INEC ad hoc staff and election materials by road.

    He said that the commission had perfected work on the area of lapses discovered during the March 28 elections.

    Henry assured people of Epe that INEC would ensure free, fair, credible and peaceful elections on Saturday.

    He lauded the efforts of stakeholders toward the successful conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections in the area.

  • Rivers: Ogunsakin urges special squad to be neutral

    Rivers: Ogunsakin urges special squad to be neutral

    The Assistant Inspector-General (AIG), of Police Zone six, Tunde Ogunsakin has given marching order to policemen on election duty in Rivers state to ensure professionalism and neutrality in their duty posts or risk sack.

    Ogunsakin gave the order, Friday in Port Harcourt while addressing the special team of Mobile Police men drawn from parts of the country for Saturday’s governorship and state House of Assembly general elections in the state.

    Also in his speech, the Election Duty state Commissioner of Police (CP), Hassan Hosea Karma strictly charged them to ensure that peaceful and credible elections are conducted their respective locations, without any loss of life and no one disenfranchised.

    The AIG who noted that Saturday’s election was crucial to all Nigerians, including the Police Force, warned against Policemen escorting politicians in and out of polling units.

    He said a monitoring team has already been set up to monitor the conducts and activities of the men on their duty posts and threatened that any police man caught in any nefarious activity, including escorting politician, aiding manipulation at the polling units among others would be sanctioned, and prosecuted together with his principal.

    “The success of this election rests squarely on you doing what you are known for. Election is a divine moment to check and find out whether you will be rewarded with promotion, rewarded for doing what is good and right or whether you will be punished for doing what is wrong.

    “The election we are doing on Saturday is very important to Nigerian Police, Nigerians on the whole and all of us, I urge you that as we post you to your different locations, to imbibe the tenets of what Mobile Police is known for.

    “You are directed to go out there to be fair to all the parties, and do your work as professional policemen. I see all of you ready to go out there to do what is right, be polite, strong and do your work effectively anywhere you are posted to carry out your duty.

    “You are going to be posted to eight different areas for action. We are not unaware that some criminals are planning to cause havoc, and wherever you find yourself, you are supposed to be as agile as possible and to deal mainly with anybody that will cause break down of law and order.

    “There will be no sacred cow. Let me warn you, if you are posted anywhere, know that Policemen are not expected to escort VIP or whatever name you call him, every politician, voter should go and cast his/her votes quietly and go back to their homes.

    “Every police man on this election duty must behave professionally. The Mobile Policemen I am addressing are going to be as fair as possible, we are not politicians, we do not belong to any political party, so there is no reason to take side,” he insisted.

    The men who were drawn from Benin in Edo state, Abuja Federal Capital Territory, Awka, Onitsha Anambra and Bayelsa states, were posted to Ahoada, Bori in Ogoni and Port Harcourt Divisions.

    “Do your work the way it is supposed to be done, ensure there is no violent, loss of life anywhere, you will be rewarded. Allow every legitimate voter to go and cast his/her vote for the candidate of their choice, the world is watching you.

    “Mopol men are special people, you are our last hope, do not disappoint us.

    “Avoid accidental discharge, but if you see somebody carrying any illegal weapon, he must not go,” Karma sounded warned.

     

  • April 11 poll: NSCDC deploys 2,000 officers for elections in Lagos

    April 11 poll: NSCDC deploys 2,000 officers for elections in Lagos

    The Lagos State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Friday said it would deploy 2,000 personnel to monitor Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

    The commandant, Mr Gabriel Abafi, made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while speaking on the readiness of the organisation for the elections.

    Abafi, said that the corps’ personnel had been adequately briefed on what is expected of them in assisting other security agencies to ensure a fair and violence-free elections.

    He said that its personnel would serve in the 20 local government areas of the state.

    “We have put necessary measures in place towards effectively monitoring to ensure the elections are violence-free.

    “The command will not tolerate any form of indiscipline from anybody and anyone caught trying to cause unrest will be arrested and prosecuted,’’ Abafi told NAN on telephone.

    He also said that the command was aware of areas that are prone to election violence, adding that its officers were fully prepared for the task.

    The commandant said the NSCDC surveillance team would be moving around during the elections due to the metropolitan nature of Lagos to curtail violence.

    “Any `area boy’ or miscreant found loitering around during the elections will be arrested and taken to the appropriate place for necessary prosecution,’’ he said.

    He cautioned youth against carrying dangerous weapons around voting centres, noting that anybody found with such would be arrested immediately.

    He appealed to youths to shun vices and ensure they were not used as instruments to cause violence and disruption of the elections.

  • Polling Centres: Police to arrest politicians with armed security

    Polling Centres: Police to arrest politicians with armed security

    Preparatory to Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections, the Nigeria police Friday vowed to arrest any political office holder who parades polling centres with armed security personnel.

    Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Training and Development, Mr. Olufemi Adenaike told reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital while speaking on the level of preparations for Saturday’s election.

    He added that, the police authorities has deployed all necessary personnel across the 36 states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory so as to record another huge success like that of presidential and national assembly polls in the country.

    Mr. Adenaike said that the “the police would not allow any political office holders to carry guns and ammunitions to the polling booths in order not allow any intimidation of voters during the poll.”

    He said that; “the political office holders should comport themselves according to the law of the land by going to the polling booths to cast their votes without ‎any intimidation whatsoever.”

    Adenaike who said he was in Kwara to supervise the elections added that, the people should obey the restriction period of 8am to the 5pm.

    He said that, police would not allow any movement of people across the length and breadth of the country so as to prevent any alleged plans by any politicians to move voters to other places in the country.

    ‎He said that, the police was poised to achieve another success like the last presidential and national elections across the country.

    Adenaike who described Kwara as a peaceful state said that, the people of the state should come out without any hindrance to cast their votes.

  • Election: INEC caution Nigerians against false assurances

    Election: INEC caution Nigerians against false assurances

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has advised Nigerians to disregard false assurances that are contrary to the commission’s electoral rules and regulations.

    The advice is contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Kayode Idowu, on Friday in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Governorship and State Assemblies elections will hold on Saturday.

    The statement said that the commission would not allow the use of the Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs).

    It stated that the commission received a report that some political leaders were asking the public to disregard INEC’s resolve to use Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and Smart Card Readers (SCRs) for the poll.

    “A particular state governor in the North Central geo-political zone is reported to have assured voters in the state that they could come out to vote on Saturday with the TVC if they do not have the PVC.

    “And that INEC will not be allowed to insist on the use of SCRs for voter accreditation.

    “The public are strongly advised to disregard false assurances that contradict the regulations that INEC has outlined for the elections,’’ it stated.

    It reaffirmed that only voters with genuine PVCs should come out to the polling units on the election day, adding that guidelines issued on the use of SCRs for the Saturday elections would be strictly applied.

    “Any action infringing these guidelines would be an electoral offence, and security agents would be on hand to apprehend offenders,’’ the statement added.

    The statement lauded Nigerians for their peaceful conduct and exemplary behaviour, even in the face of minor challenges during the Presidential and National Assembly elections on March 28.

    It, however, said it was unfortunate that some leaders would misguide the public and thereby prepare ground for needless disruptions to the polling process on Saturday.

    “INEC hereby warns that any obstruction to the processes it has put in place for the elections by any person, no matter how highly placed will constitute an electoral offence punishable by law,’’ it stated.

    The statement also said the commission had assigned the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Kogi, Alhaji Hussaini Pai, to supervise the conduct of Saturday elections in Kano State.

    The deployment, the statement explained, followed the demise of the former REC of the state, Alhaji Munkaila Abdullahi.

    The statement recalled that before his posting as Kogi REC, Pai was the Ekiti State REC, who conducted the Governorship Election of June 21, 2014.

    “In his absence, the REC for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Prof. Jacob Jatau, will supervise the Saturday conduct of the State Assembly election in Kogi,’’ the statement added.

  • Guber elections: Jega appeals for calm in Benue

    Guber elections: Jega appeals for calm in Benue

    INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has appealed to politicians to refrain from acts capable of truncating the electoral process by encouraging peaceful conduct of elections on April 11.

    Jega, who made the appeal on Thursday in Makurdi during a meeting of stakeholders convened by INEC, said the scale of violence that was recorded in Benue during the Presidential and National Assembly polls was regrettable.

    “The scale of destruction witnessed in Benue during the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections was incomparable with anything in any part of the country.

    “The commission lost over 200 card readers and two of our offices were burnt down with one staff member.”

    He said the stakeholders’ meeting was necessary to address electoral malpractices and issues capable of causing violence.

    Jega expressed regret over the violence and said the commission had achieved milestones in the conduct of credible elections in the country.

    He called on politicians to support the commission to improve its performance in future elections.

    “It is our desire to have better polls in April 11; we therefore, appeal for your cooperation and calm during the elections.”

    He assured the state that the 200 card readers that were destroyed would be replaced and urged politicians to ensure the safety of INEC officials and materials during the elections.

    He warned against spilling of innocent blood during elections and charged the politicians to engage in good conduct.

    Also, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations, Mr. Sotonye Wakama, called on the electorate to report all cases of electoral malpractice to the security agencies.

    The police chief also warned them against taking the laws into their hands.

    He also called on them to use smart phones to document electoral malpractice.

    A cross section of politicians expressed dismay over the unbecoming attitude of contestants who insisted on winning elections at all costs.

    They called on the security agencies and INEC officials to be neutral in the discharge of their duties and use sanctions against erring staff.

    Two incumbent senators, who were returned in the National Assembly election, Barnabas Gemade and George Akume, appealed to INEC to remain steadfast in declaring credible results.

    They also appealed to security agencies to apply the law on all regardless of positions.

    The PDP Chairman in the state, Mr Emmanuel Agbo, called on INEC to re-consider the posting of the Resident Electoral Officer, Prof Istifinus Dafwang.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by politicians, local and international observers, INEC officials, traditional rulers and academicians.