The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2015 polls

  • Abia guber re-run holds April 25

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abia state has scheduled the governorship re-run for the state for the 25th of April

    The re-run is to take place in the affected polling units and wards in 9 local government areas of the state.

    The local government areas affected are; Aba North, Aba South, Bende, Isiala Ngwa South, Isiala Ngwa North, Umuahia South, Bende, Arochukwu, Ohafia and Osisioma.

    In a similar vein, Saturday the 18th of April has been slated for a re-run into the Umuahia North state constituency which is the only house of assembly election left for INEC to make the result public.

    It will be held in three wards in Umuahia North state constituency, which has not been concluded.

    These re runs are due to the inconclusive elections in the affected areas, which has left the entire state in a political limbo since the governorship election was held last weekend.

  • Rivers elections: Observers demand arrest, prosecution of REC

    Rivers elections: Observers demand arrest, prosecution of REC

    Independent observers, under the aegis of the Coalition of INEC Accredited Election Observer Groups, have demanded the arrest and prosecution of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Rivers State, Dame Gesila Khan, over the fraudulent general elections.

    They also insisted the April 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers state did not hold about ten local government areas.

    The observers, led by Kalu Victor, Wednesday at a news conference in Port Harcourt, accused Khan, who hails from Bayelsa State as President Goodluck Jonathan, of  truncating the efforts of the President to give Nigerians credible and peaceful elections.

    They maintained that elections did not hold in Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Abua/Odual, Khana, Ahoada-East, Ahoada-West, Bonny and Etche LGAs of Rivers state.

    The observers said: “There was encouraging voters’ turnout for the elections across that state. There was no election when our teams visited at various times, Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Abua/Odual, and Khana LGAs. We could not sight a polling unit where elections took place in the areas.

    “Voters were peacefully accredited in Ahoada-West, Ahoada-East, Bonny and Etche LGAs, but voting could not hold, as armed thugs in their good number were freely patrolling the areas, intimidating voters and carting away ballot boxes.

    “The election was marred by snatching and stuffing of ballot papers and ballot boxes respectively, and intimidation of voters by thugs, especially in Obio/Akpor and Omuma LGAs.”

    The independent observers also stated that the behaviour and conduct of the REC of INEC in Rivers state during the elections defined her as being partisan, which they described as a violation of her oath of office and the constitution of Nigeria, regarding her position.

    Khan, however, insisted that the March 28 and April 11 elections in Rivers state were free, fair, credible and peaceful.

  • INEC presents Certificate of Return to election winners in Edo

    INEC presents Certificate of Return to election winners in Edo

    The Independent National Electoral Commission Wednesday began the issuance of Certificate of Return to candidates who won the National Assembly elections in Edo State.

    Those who collected their Certificates of Return were Engr. Clifford Ordia (Edo Central) Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South) Ehiozuwa Johnson (Egor/Ikpoba-Okha) Joseph Edionwele (Esan West/Central/Igueben) Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama (Oredo) Patrick Aisowieren (Orhiomwon/Uhunmwode).

    Others absent at the certificate presentation were Francis Alimikhena (Edo North) Peterson Akpatason (Akoko-Edo) Sergius Oguns (Esan North East/Esan South East) Philip Shaibu (Estako) Pally Iriase (Owan) and Omosede Igbinedion (Ovia).

    Speaking at a brief presentation ceremony, a National Commissioner of INEC, Dr. Ishmael Igbani, advised aggrieved candidates and political parties to go to the election tribunal to seek redress over any grievances on the outcome of the National Assembly elections.

    Igbani noted that the commission was ‘very satisfied with the conduct of the elections. If anybody has missed feelings, there is a process.

    “The process should be followed. If you are not happy, you go to the tribunal.‎”

    He charged those returned elected to lead in accordance with the aspirations of the people of their respective constituencies.

    Senator-elect for Edo South, Matthew ‎Urhoghide praised INEC on the conduct of the exercise and promised to provide true representation ‎at national level.

  • INEC fixes Imo supplementary election for April 25

    INEC fixes Imo supplementary election for April 25

    There was mild drama Wednesday as the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Imo State, Dr. Gabriel Ada failed to give the accurate number of registered voters and the number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) collected in the areas where the Commission will conduct supplementary governorship fixed for April 25.

    INEC had while declaring the governorship election inconclusive, given the figure of registered voters in the affected areas as 144715, which was higher than the margin with which the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Governor Rochas Okorocha was leading his closest rival, Emeka Ihedioha.

    But Ada who briefed journalists Wednesday, could not confirm the figure or disclose the number of PVC distributed in the areas.

    When pressed further, the REC, who had come under fire for the alleged compromised role of the Commission during the Presidential and governorship elections in the state, said that “the number is approximately between 145,000 to 150,000 registered voters”.

    He also stated that the number of PVC collected will not form a threshold for the number of voters that will participate in the supplementary election, adding that “those that did not collect their PVC before the election still have the opportunity to do so because only those with their PVC that will participate in the election”.

    The REC who was not also emphatic on the number of Polling Units where the scheduled election will hold, said that “the election will hold in over 200 Polling Units in 23 Local Government Areas of the state”.

    He announced further that the APC won 16 seats in the House of Assembly elections, while the election was inconclusive in six constituencies and has been rescheduled to hold on the same date with the supplementary election.

  • Parties accuse INEC of appointing Dickson’s brother as collation officer

    Parties accuse INEC of appointing Dickson’s brother as collation officer

    Political parties in Bayelsa State on Wednesday accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of appointing the brother to the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, as a Collation Officer for the April 18 rescheduled elections.

    The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Baritor Kpagih, shifted the House of Assembly elections in eight constituencies citing insufficient electoral materials.

    But the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), the All Progressive Congress (APC) and other parties in Yenagoa said INEC appointed Dickson’s brother and General Manager of the state’s Newspaper Corporation, Mr. Charles Tambo, as a collation officer.

    They specifically said that Tambo had been directed by INEC to be a collation officer for Kololuma-Opokuma Constituency 1.

    Speaking on behalf of other parties, Mr. Preye Ozoro and Mr. Ebire Tarabina, the candidates of APGA for Kolokuma-Opokuma 1 and 2 respectively, alleged that Tambo was appointed to enable the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hijack the results of the election.

    The candidates also accused the state government of a plot to arrest them and 15 strong supporters of the opposition parties before the Saturday’s elections.

    They named the opposition supporters penciled down for arrest by the government using security agencies as Kwesi Zikiye, Gesiye Isowo, Sylvanus Abila, Inemo Oruebimiekumo, Chamberlin Ikidi and Jackson Suokiri.

    Others are Inemotimi Angalapele, Ibarakumo Ikosomi, Pereowei Agura, Victor Vianana, Ebikeme Okoringa, Akpoegberi Ogidiga, Ikuro Igarando and Alex Oruebimiekumo.

    They recalled that the government had once arrested persons perceived to be opposed to the PDP and unlawfully detained them for two weeks in Yenagoa and Zone 6, Benin, Edo State.

    According to them, the candidates of APC for Kolokuma-Opokuma Constituency 1, Mr. Taripredou Aketi and APGA’s Yenagoa Constituency 1, Mr. Kingdom Blessing, suffered the same fate.

    “Emboldened by its operation-arrest- and-detain-our-opponent strategy, the Bayelsa State Government has perfected plans to visit the same fate upon us and our supporters in Kolokuma-Opokuma.

    “The Bayelsa State Government also plan to flood Kolokuma-Opokuma on the Election Day with thugs, fake military officers and policemen, essentially to cause violence and bloodbath with a view to generally intimidate our supporters from coming out to vote”, they said.

    The candidates appealed to INEC to withdraw Tambo and replace him with a university lecturer no associated with the state government.

    They also urged the commission not to release any essential electoral material for Kolokuma-Opokuma to the state government or its agents.

    They also appealed to the commission and security agencies to prevailed on the governor not to tour Kolokuma-Opokuma on the election day as it would instigate crisis in the area.

    But Kpagih acknowledged receiving a petition written by candidates of APGA over the appointment of Tambo, but said the name had been removed from the list of electoral officers.

    “I am barely three months old here. I don’t know anybody. So, when I received the petition, I went to check the list and discovered that Charles Tambo’s name was there. We quickly removed it. So, the name is no longer in the list,” he said.

    He advised parties with complaints to approach him instead of dissipating their energy writing petitions.

  • APGA accepts Ebonyi guber results

    APGA accepts Ebonyi guber results

    The leadership of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ebonyi State Wednesday said it has accepted the outcome of the last governorship and House of Assembly elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.

    The State Chairman of APGA and running mate for the APGA governorship candidate Mr. Jerry Obasi stated this in APGA.

    He said that although he had certain reservations over the conduct of the election, the party decided to accept its outcome in order to give room for change in the development of the state.

    The party chieftain who appreciated the fact that power was shifting to south senatorial district considering the victory of the PDP in the last election noted that APGA would continue to form a strong opposition base to ensure that democracy dividends get to the people of the state.

    Obasi advised the incoming administration to shun corruption practices or any act capable of ruining the economic prospect of the state.

    He said the party has not decided whether to challenge the result at the tribunal.

    “Even when I will quarrel much about the outcome of the election, there are areas where every party also faulted; the election was not perfect. However, I accept the outcome of the election and there is need for the state to forge ahead. I will continue to criticize the incoming administration; I will remain critical about issues that will not help the state.

    “I believe in social justice, equity and fair play; I advise the Governor-elect to learn from history; his main agenda should be focused on infrastructure, education among other areas he should not engage in looting the public funds but engage in meaningful development of the state.

    “He should write his name in gold through his developmental initiatives. I accept the outcome of the election and congratulate him. We have not decided to go the tribunal.”

  • PDP wins 16 Assembly seats in Ebonyi

    PDP wins 16 Assembly seats in Ebonyi

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won sixteen out of the eighteen House of Assembly election conducted at the weekend in Ebonyi State.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) made this known in a release Tuesday in Abakaliki, the state capital.

    According to the results released by the commission, PDP won in Onicha West and East, Afikpo North West, Afikpo South East and West, Ohaozara East and West, Ivo, Ezza South, Ikwo North and South constituencies.

    Others are Izzi West, Ishielu North, Ishielu South, Ebonyi North East and West.

    PPA won Afikpo North East constituency while LP won Izzi East.

    The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Lawrence Azubuike when contacted said five state constituencies are inconclusive.

    They include; Abakaliki South, Ohaukwu North and South and Ezza North East and West.

  • Polls: Edo police arrest 13 over electoral offences

    Thirteen persons have been arrested by the Edo State Police command over several electoral offences committed during the conduct of April 11 State House of Assembly elections.

    Spokesman of the police, Joseph Edogiawerie, who disclosed this in an interview, said the suspects were arrested at various locations in the state for ballot snatching and other electoral offences.

    Edogiawerie noted that 10 of the suspects were arrested at Auchi while three were arrested at Iguobazuwa in Ovia South- West local government areas.

    It would be recalled that eight suspects were arrested during the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections in the state for electoral offences.

    Edogiawerie said the suspects would be charged to court after investigations.

    Meanwhile, Edo state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Patrick Aisowerien of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode federal constituency.

    Aisowerien polled a total of 21,759 votes to beat his closet PDP opponent, Larry Ogieva who scored 16,519 votes.

    James Idonigie, the returning officer of the election declared the APC candidate as the winner of the election.

  • Guber polls: Okorocha vows to defend victory

    Guber polls: Okorocha vows to defend victory

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Tuesday vowed to defend his mandate in the last governorship election against all forms of manipulations by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The Imo Governor who addressed a press conference at the Government House, urged INEC to adopt the results of the six wards in Oru East, which were earlier rejected by the Commission over alleged irregularities and declare him winner.

    According to him, the figure of registered voters in the areas that elections were cancelled, which was earlier put at 144715 by INEC has been corrected as 127000, “INEC has given the correct figure of registered voters in the areas they were claiming elections did not hold to 127000. By the time they consider those that collected their PVC, the number will further reduce and by the time they finish accreditation, the number will go down still. So INEC should stop delaying the people’s victory and announce the winner.”

    The Governor also noted that if any of the results were to be rejected, it should be those of Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise and Ezinihitte Local Government Areas, where he said figures were falsified by the PDP, “the PDP candidate allocated over one hundred thousand votes to himself in the three LGAs, where elections never held so if there is any result that should be rejected, it should be the ones from those areas.”

    He further advised the candidates from the opposition parties to take a cue from President Goodluck Jonathan and accept their defeat in good fate so that they could join hands with his administration to develop the state.

    Meanwhile another round of protest rocked Owerri, the Imo state capital, where youths barricaded major roads in protest of the refusal of INEC to declare the winner of the governorship election.

    The youths numbering over four thousand, accused the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Gabriel Ada of conniving with the PDP to undermine the will of the people.

    They alleged that the REC in his game plan to declare the PDP candidate winner, had accepted all the results from the areas the PDP allocated fraudulent number of votes to its candidate and deliberately rejected results from areas where APC convincingly won.

    One of the youths who did not want his name mentioned for obvious security reasons, warned that the stalemate in the state currently may snowball into full blown crisis if INEC fails to do the right thing or undermine the will of the people in anyway.

    In another breath, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho, staged a peaceful protest with hundreds of his supporters against the conduct of the governorship election, which he demanded should be cancelled.

  • INEC declares Taraba guber poll inconclusive

    INEC declares Taraba guber poll inconclusive

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Monday declared as “inconclusive” the governorship election in Taraba state. 

    The commission ordered a rerun in some polling units in 30 days.

    The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Darius Dickson Ishaku won the poll in nine local governments areas with 317,198 votes, while Aisha Alhassan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won six local government areas 262,386 votes to come second .
    But the Returning Officer for Taraba Prof. Mohammed Kyari said since the number of cancelled votes was more than the number of the difference in votes (margin) between PDP and the APC, there was need to re-conduct the election in the affected areas.
    Kyari said: “Since the number of the cancelled votes is more than the difference between the two leading parties, the election in Taraba state is therefore inconclusive.”
    INEC said it cancelled the polls in those areas because of irregularities and pockets of violence.

    PDP won with a difference of 54,812 votes, while the number of the cancelled votes in all the affected polling units amounted to 127,125 votes.

    INEC said there would be rerun in Donga local government area and some polling units in Chanchanji Ward in Takum “where votes were rejected.”

    The rerun in Donga would be across its entire 165 polling units which the PDP earlier claimed to have won.