The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2015 polls

  • Anambra: Observers demand immediate set up of tribunals

    Anambra: Observers demand immediate set up of tribunals

    Following the alleged manipulations and irregularities that characterized the presidential and national assembly elections in Anambra state, the coalition of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accredited observers is demanding immediate set up of elections petition tribunals in the state to correct the anomalies.

    Briefing reporters Wednesday at the Marble Arch Hotels in Awka, Anambra state, the INEC observers led by Chris Azor, said the results of the elections were mutilated with falsification of figures in favour of one party.

    According to the observers, “we must consciously discourage the practice of installing the wrong person on elective office because of the obvious negative implication on good governance, accountability and peaceful co-existence”.

    The group insisted that the experience of late commencement of polling would not re-occur, adding that INEC should not stretch the patience of the Nigerian voter beyond tolerable level in future elections.

    The group therefore, called on INEC to make clear what guidelines would govern the accreditation process during the April 11th, 2015 elections.

    “We urge the commission to make a clear and definitive statement on these elections taken into account needs to correct its own deficiencies and inform the Nigerian public as what to expect on Saturday,” it said.

    Furthermore, the group observed with dismay, the discrepancy between results declared at the polling units and the collation centers, adding that such highlights the weakness of the collation process.

    The observers therefore, recommended that votes cast in polling units, be cross checked to tally with results posted at the collation centres.

  • 12 Gov’s candidates, 265 candidates for Oyo Assembly election – REC

    12 Gov’s candidates, 265 candidates for Oyo Assembly election – REC

    The Independent National Electoral‎ Commission (INEC), has disclosed that 12 governorship candidates and 14 political parties has presented 265 candidates to contest for the 32 seats in the Oyo State House of Assembly elections on Saturday.

    The Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Rufus Akeju stated this Wednesday during the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Security meeting held in Ibadan.

    According to him, ballot papers will be distributed on the basis of permanent voters’ cards collected by voters, adding that it is aimed at preventing electoral malpractice that may occur with the excess ballot papers.

    Akeju disclosed that 47,254 ballot papers were rejected at the presidential election, stressing that:” A preliminary investigation conducted by this office revealed that a large percentage of the rejected votes came from voters that voted for parties that did not present candidates for the position.”

    He said smart card ‎readers will be fully deployed and utilised for the election, promising that wherever a card reader malfunctions, a replacement from the contingency arrangement will be provided.

    ‎Akeju said political parties and party functionaries making unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations of electoral fraud against his office is yet to wake up or embrace the sanity in the electoral process.

    “Probably they are on an expedition, ultimate search for acceptable excuses for their anticipated electoral failure. The power to determine who receives any mandate lies with the voters, the election management body merely provides the enabling environment as stated in the electoral law with the active support of the security,” he said

    The INEC boss promised voters that the commission will provide needed materials in the required quantity with well -trained personnel for the Saturday election.

  • Kano: INEC commences distribution of sensitive materials

    Kano: INEC commences distribution of sensitive materials

    The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in Kano have commenced the distribution of sensitive materials across the 44 Local Government Areas of the State in readiness for Saturday’s gubernatorial and State Assembly polls.

    The newly posted Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Hussaini Halilu Pai told reporters in Kano Wednesday that sensitive materials are now been conveyed to the Registration Areas Centres  (RAC) in the various Local Government Areas for easy distribution in the polling units, which have been customised according to the Local Government Areas.

    While distributing the sensitive materials at INEC Headquarters in the presence of the various Security Agencies to the Electoral officers for onward distribution to the Adhoc staff, Halilu said that the timely distribution of the ballot papers and the result sheets would facilitate the early commencement of accreditation and voting.

    The new REC, said that the Commission would not fold its arms and allow any adhoc staff to hamper the good works of the Commission, adding that any of them who indulges in any anomaly would not be spared.

    Speaking on some of the malfunctioning card readers, the REC explained that those discovered to be faulty have since been replaced, adding that all the card reader machines have been re-configured and re-charged for a successful accreditation process during the election.

    On security, he said a meeting of the inter-agency security Committees would be conveyed, which would be headed by the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, where security matters would addressed to forestall any eventuality in the conduct of the elections.

    Halilu said all arrangements for the conduct of Saturday’s Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections is on course in Kano State, adding that: ”We are not leaving any stone unturned to ensure the successful conduct of the exercise.

    ”I have come here to conduct an election, I hope and pray to deliver a free, fair and credible election, so after that my mission would have been accomplished, and my achievement would be based on all of us joining hands together to ensure the success of the election.”

    However, a total of 22 candidates are contesting for the seat of Kano State Governor, while 239 candidates are contesting for the seat of 40 State House of Assembly members.

  • Cross River must remain PDP state – Ita-Giwa

    Cross River must remain PDP state – Ita-Giwa

    Political leader of the Bakassi people in Cross River State, Princess Florence Ita-Giwa, Wednesday said the state must remain a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) state despite losing the presidential elections.

    Addressing market women in a campaign to mobilize support for the PDP governorship candidate, Prof Ben Ayade, in Calabar, she said everyone must not belong to the same party.

    According to her a proper democracy required healthy opposition. “I don’t intend to cross carpet because we did not win at the centre. There must be healthy opposition in a good democracy. The All Progressives Congress (APC) played a healthy opposition, so the PDP should also play that part,” she said.

  • April 11 poll: Jonathan urges Nigerians to remain peaceful

    April 11 poll: Jonathan urges Nigerians to remain peaceful

    As the nation prepares for Saturday’s governorship and State Assembly elections, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan calls on all Nigerians to remain peaceful, united and law-abiding.

    In a statement by Reuben Abati, special adviser to the President on media and publicity, the president condemns attempt by some politicians, groups and individuals to intimidate others, heat up the polity and cause public disorder and disaffection in the aftermath of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The statement reads; “President Jonathan is especially concerned about the negative triumphalism that has been put on display by certain elements since March 31 which flies in the face of his personal commitment to post-election peace, unity and national stability.

    “The President calls on all those, who  through their actions and utterances, have been promoting divisiveness, sectionalism and ethnic hatred in the country following the outcome of the March 28 elections to cease and desist from actions that detract from the true spirit and culture of democracy envisioned by patriotic men and women of goodwill in Nigeria.

    “President Jonathan also condemns the undue harassment of public officials serving under his administration and urges all affected persons to continue to perform their lawful duties without fear.

    “The President cautions that this should be a time for the healing of political wounds in the overriding interest of national unity, stability and progress, not a time for ethnic jingoism and the settling of scores.

    “The Federal Government will not condone any attempt to instigate a crisis in any part of the country in furtherance of personal political ambitions.

    “President Jonathan assures all Nigerians that his administration remains fully committed to national progress and the entrenchment of the best values of democracy for the good of all Nigerians.

    “He urges Nigerians to go out en-masse once again on April 11 to vote for candidates of their choice in the Governorship and State Assembly elections with the confidence that his administration will do all within its powers to ensure that they do so in peace, without threats, intimidation or violence from any quarters.”

     

  • Buhari assures of credible polls in Imo, Rivers, Edo

    Buhari assures of credible polls in Imo, Rivers, Edo

    The President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday assured of credible elections in the All Progressives Congress (APC) states of Imo, Rivers, Edo and others in the forthcoming governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    General Buhari who was in Owerri, the Imo State capital on a thank-you visit, said that he was aware of the travails of  Governors Rotimi Amaechi, Rochas Okorocha and Adams Oshiomhole during the last election.

    According to him, Oshiomole, Amaechi and Okorocha have shown uncommon courage and commitment in this system that has brought about this change and they should be commended.

    He said, “the vote of the people is their strength and if the people’s vote is allowed to count, they can vote out any government that does not meet their expectations and this is what the APC government stands for.”

    In his opening remarks, the APC National Chairman, Chief Odigie Oyegun, said that the leadership of the party was aware of the frustrations suffered by APC members during the Presidential election in Imo, Rivers and Edo States.

    He said that “we are aware of the frustrations and intimidation you suffered during the last election and that is why the President-elect decided to come here in his first outing since he was announced the President-elect. But I assure you that it will never happen again. You can go out on Saturday the 11 of April and vote for the APC candidates without fear”.

    Imo State Governor,Rochas Okorocha in his speech, said that Buhari’s victory has given the members of the APC a sense of relief, adding that their experience in the Presidential election was traumatising.

    He urged the President-elect to ensure that there is a level playing ground for Ndigbo in his administration, adding that they had suffered untold hardship and marginalisation under the outgoing administration.

    “We are in this struggle to better Nigeria, especially the Igbo nation and may I remind you that you are the President of all Nigerians and not the APC alone so your administration should carry everybody along,” he stated.

  • Guber poll: El-Rufai exposes alleged PDP’s plan to rig

    Guber poll: El-Rufai exposes alleged PDP’s plan to rig

    Kaduna State Governorship Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Nasir El-Rufai has exposed alleged plot by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

    According to El-Rufai, PDP is presently working to undermine Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) and Card Reader device so as to ensure massive rigging in the state.

    The candidate, who featured in a Freedom Radio Kaduna breakfast programme ‘Barka da Warhaka’, also said the PDP is recruiting and arming thugs to disrupt the election.

    He further said that, the PDP led government has imported armed thugs in perpetrating rigging of the election, aside sinister dealings with some unprincipled INEC personnel to aid their sinister motive.

    He said, “We got credible intelligence and alerted the police, military, DSS and INEC. They have been running from pillar to pillar in the name of thwarting effectiveness of Card Readers. They adopted using of armed thugs to intimidate voters and carry out ballot snatching and stuffing of boxes for declaration. They planned to withhold result sheets and other plots.

    “They met with some security personnel and sealed deals and we submitted all the details with empirical evidences to the authorities. And so, we are watching closely and will not give them a chance.”

    He also said that no one will perpetrate crisis in the state and go free, saying, “It is not war or fight, it is supposed to be a contest and so, no one will escape prosecution if he incite crisis in our state. The coming government of General Buhari and will follow all cases to the later.

    “We have reports of how some serving commissioners and a senior staff of the governor are arming thugs, and like I said we have documented all these and submitted.

    “They cannot intimidate citizens of our state, the people of Kaduna state have right to decide their future and no amount of money will work, no force, no manipulation of religion. Let them learn from presidential election. Did Sambo and his gang not bring millions? Did it work? Did Yero not commit state and local government resources? Did it work?” El-Rufai asked.

  • Election: IGP to redeploy officers to Rivers, and other states

    Election: IGP to redeploy officers to Rivers, and other states

    In a bid to forestall electoral incidences in the forthcoming gubernatorial and state assembly election, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Suleiman Abba has said he will deploy more officers to Rivers State and other volatile states.

    Also, the IGP said that three suspects have been arrested in Enugu in connection with the blast that took place during the presidential elections.

    The Police chief disclosed this in Abuja Tuesday during a meeting with State Commissioners of Police as part of preparation for the election.

    On the unrest in Rivers, Abba said: “Let me confirm to you that arrests have been made and there are also suspects identified with incidence in Rivers including those that were committed as far back as during the period of campaigns.

    “We have identified culprits or those suspected to have being involved or being the mastermind of these offences. We have not made it public because we are using all other avenues, our intelligence and operatives are out there to arrest them. Where we don’t get them immediately, perhaps, after a little while, we will exhaust other avenues including declaring them wanted.

    On the deployment of more personnel, the IGP said: “The purpose of our meeting includes strengthening our deployment to Rivers and other states where we feel we really need to strengthen the deployments to prevent lawlessness. It is not only in Rivers, there are also two or three other states that we will strengthen our deployment from senior officers down to other officers so that we take charge and make sure those incidences are not recorded anymore.

    Speaking on the bomb blast incidence that occurred during the presidential election in Enugu, the IGP explained: “We have arrested three suspects in connection to the case and our investigation has gone to a very advanced stage and we were able to identify the factory where those Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) were manufactured and I think that alone is a big success and investigation is ongoing.

    While commending men of the Police for the display of professionalism, impartiality, and non-partisanship during the presidential election, Abba noted that 124 suspects were arrested for various electoral offences, adding that some have been charged to court, while investigations continue.

    His word: “So far, we have 124 incidences of electoral offences that we have investigated and quite a number of them have been charged to court already while others will still require INEC’s intervention.

    Reacting to the supposed threat message by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu to Igbos in Lagos, the IGP said since the traditional ruler has denied the allegation, he was not in any position to state otherwise.
    The IGP said: “On the issue of Oba of Lagos making statement about who electorates or voters should vote for in this election, I saw it in the media and I tried all my best to verify whether that statement was made and so far, what I have been able to gather is the fact that the Oba himself denied it.

    “And if he denied it, who I’m I to say otherwise. However, if for any reason that become a subject of further efforts to confirm if he did it or not, I think we will leave that to the future but for now, this is what I have,” he added.

  • ACPN governorship candidate adopt Ahmed

    ACPN governorship candidate adopt Ahmed

    The governorship candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) in Kwara Tuesday again adopted the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and all APC candidates for House of Assembly seats in the April 11, 2015 general elections.

    Seven parties, under the aegis of Congress of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), had earlier adopted Governor Ahmed as their governorship candidate for the Saturday elections.

    The parties based their decision on the need to be in the mainstream of the nation’s politics.

    The parties involved are Action Alliance (AA), Progressive Peoples’ Alliance (PPA), United Progressives Party, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Citizen Popular Party (CPP), African Peoples’ Alliance (APA) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Speaking with reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, the state chairman of ACPN, Mr. Abraham Omotosho, who is also the governorship candidate of the party, expressed the confidence of the party in the capacity and competence of Governor Ahmed to continue to steer the ship of the state in the direction of peace, progress, stability and development.

    Omotosho said the decision was in line with directive of the national executive committee of the party, directing members of the party to vote for and mobilise for the APC to ensure victory for the party on Saturday.

    Said he: “Having done the a review of the policies and achievements of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed-led administration, which is a product of the Saraki political dynasty, we reached the conclusion that the governor has made commendable progress in poverty eradication, peaceful co-existence, youth empowerment, job creation, security of lives and property, infrastructure development, education, and made significant impact in other key sectors of the state economy.

    “We also put into consideration the fact that Saraki dynasty is united under the leadership of Dr. Bukola Saraki. We are particularly happy that the duo of Senator Saraki and Senator Gbemisola Saraki are now united to pursue the progress and development of Kwara state and her people under one political platform. The Saraki political dynasty has stood by Kwarans and for Kwarans for many decades and we are eternally grateful to the dynasty,” the statement said.

    The ACPN chairman, who said the party welcomed the outcome of the March 28 presidential election, added that the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari is a signal of a better tomorrow for Nigerians, and especially for the people of Kwara state.

    He also said that the ACPN, under the late founder, Dr. Olusola Saraki, maintained a cordial beneficial relationship with the government at the centre, “which endeared development and comforting patronage to the state. Our party therefore, having been founded on the principles of our late leader, pivoted on the welfare of Kwarans, is committed to maintaining this stead, even without his physical presence.”

  • April 11: Commissioner urges Lagos residents to vote APC

    April 11: Commissioner urges Lagos residents to vote APC

    A Commissioner in the Lagos State Civil Service Commission and one of the leaders of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Olorunda Local Council Development Area in Badagry, Pastor Israel Olufunso Alagbe has appealed to residents of Lagos state to vote for APC in the Saturday April 11  governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    Alagbe, one of the apex leaders of the Badagry Divisional Forum who also contested for the Badagry federal constituency House of Representatives seat but lost in the primaries made the appeal in a chat with our correspondent at Badagry Tuesday.

    He appealed passionately to Lagosians to vote for the APC governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode and other House of Assembly candidates in the state.

    According to Alagbe, “voting APC to govern Lagos State at this time with the same party at the Federal level will bring great development to the state and its inhabitants. It will be a round table conference of the same family where decisions that benefit the state will not receive any strict opposition.

    “Our Local Council Development Areas shall be confirmed fully as Local Government Areas. We were cheated because some States with less population have more local governments while Lagos with greater population has been denied approval of more local governments. It is because we are not in the same political family with them.

    “Now if we vote APC in Lagos the way will be smooth to remove every political bottle neck intentionally created. If we actually want better government in Lagos State, vote APC members of House of Assembly, vote Ambode for governor. Enough of sufferings as an opposition state. Let us share from same source for the benefit of all of us,” Alagbe said.

    He stressed further that, the state suffered a lot of deprivation and suffered a lot from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led Federal Government all these years of democratic governance because an opposition party, APC, has been in control of the state.

    “The government at the center created various bottle necks in order to make Lagos State non functional because the State is in opposition. The State was denied any form of patronage by the PDP led federal government and was denied all its due as a former federal capital. Now all that will stop if we vote APC in Saturday’s election,” Alagbe said.